The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-12
NO DANGER OF EPIDEMIC.
The General Health Good and No Dang
Arising From Contaminated Water.

The General Health Good and No Danger
Arising From Contaminated Water.
JoHNsTowN, June 9.-The two large hos
pitfalls here have but little to do now, but the
large corps of physicians is kept busy. At the
Cambria hospital sixteen persons, injured by
the flood, were cared for and but two died
Miss Maggie Hughes and Mrs Willower.
Since the food over five hundred persons have
received the attention of the physicians at this
institution, their injuries being directly or in
directly caused by the food. Several women
who nursed some of the injured became i'll,
and one of them may not recover. At the Bed
ford hospital 362 injured persons were cared
for. and when they could be removed were
taken to Pittsburg hospitals. Only three pa
tients were brought to the hospital to-day. They
received slight injuries while at work clear
ing away the debris. Over six hundred
persons were furnished medicine and attention
by the physicians in charge of the hos pitals
The ten hospitals have been practically aban-
doned, as none of them have had case for
several days. The health of the valley is good
notwithstanding reports of a threatened cpl
demic. The following bulletin has been issued
by the state board of health and speaks for
ITSELF Ii was posted to-day in every cpnspic-
words OF DR.. Croft will do much toward re-
lieving the anxiety of the many thousands of
survivors and worlIingmen in the stricken
valley who have feared the outbreak of an
epidemic. For this reason many have de-
serted the town:
Bulletin-The general condition of health in
Johnstown and vicinity is excellent. No epidemic
disease OF any kind prevails, is it expected that
az "4ll eiAse' tHe Miioie ieSOH hAS oeen u ftuVu
into convenient districts and each placed under a
competent sanitarian The state board of health is
prepared to meet all emergencies they arise. The
air Is wholesome and the water generally pure. II
the good people Of the devastated district will 90 on
as they have so nobly done for the past week in
their efforts TO clean up the wrsekage, good health
GEORGE CROFT.
DR.. Croft has made careful inspection of
the drift in the river at the stone bridge and
reports that there is no probability of any con-
tamination of the water supply OF the towns
below this source. He says the number of
bodies IN the river cannot be large. The val
leys have been swept so clean by the great
floods that the river waters are now purer than
before the disaster. There is q difference in
the communicating power OF decomposing or
ganic matters. That from bodies dead of con-
tagious disease would be far more dangerous
than that from bodies which were of healthy
persons. AS il is, the bodies in the river are
generally covered with from one to six feet OF
mud and sand. This earthly matter absOrbS all
ei1uvia and acts as the best of disiDfectant.
There is no present danger to the water supply
of Pittsburg at J ohnstown. The only present
danger is from the people being frightened into
sickness by sensational reports.
"1 on may state for me-" said he that there
are more doctors here than patients. The gem
eral health of the people in the town is much
better than | expected. | really looked for an
epidemic of some kind. 1t would have broken
out however, before this time if any was to
come and for this reason feel perfectly safe
in issuing the above bulletin. There is hardly
any typhoid fever and but little pneumonia.
The fears of ali epidemic of diphtheria are
groundless. There are a few cases of sore
throat, but they are not serious enough TO
cause any alarm. Every effort is being made
to have people move out of their houses and
into tents. Plenty OF tents will be furnished
by the state Living in tents in the open air
is more conducive to good health than residing
In close, damp houses. The water is generally
good and the air is pure. | will say again that
residents of Pittsburg and cities below need
not fear to drink the river water. There is no
danger of its being contaminated"
DR.. John Smiller and DR.. f. L. StrouSe are
in charge of the Red Cross outposts, which are
located in the midst of the ruins. The flag of
the red cross on a white field OF tents, waving
upon the main tent, is a welcome sign of
refuge TO many workmen who are suddenly
stricken while at work on the ruins The word
hospital is feared by them and they would
rather leave the city than to enter one. At the
outpost they know they can be prescribed for
and can lie down for while at rest None of
the cases are very seriOus-only ordinary COM
plants due to a change of food and water.
After short rest they generally return to their
work. The tents are usually well filled. The tents
were warm and close to-day, but this is due to
the hot weather. A stiff breeze is doing much
TO alleviate the sufeTings of the men.