New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-11
DENYING A TYPHUS FEVER STORY.
NORTH BROTHER ISLAND THE SUBJECT OF THE
pEpORT


REPORT.
Tho Health Commissioners were annoyed yesterday
BY the publication OF apparently unwarranted re-
port that typhus fever patients on North Brother Island
neglected and that other persons who were kept
In quarantine OH the island were not provided with
proper beds and attendants. 1t was said in the report
that on Tuesday night tweny-sX sufferers from the
fever In one pavilion in charge OF on" attendant
who was expected also to look after four other patients
In another pavilion and TO watch number Of suspects
in tent at a distance from the pavOns. some OF the
sick persons said 10 be begging for water with no
attendant 10 provide for their wants. In inc
quarantine tent IL was said child who had been at
tackled with the fever was allowed to remain for more
than day because no physician was rear the place
Cots In the tents said to have no mattresses ana
some OF the occupants OF the tents were said TO be
compelled 10 sleep on chairs and benches. 1t was de-
claIed also that and attendants in the FEVER
navilions were allowed To mingle in the dining room
with nurses from the smallpox pavilion
DR.. Percivul, the physician who is in charge OF the
pavilions the island, called to the once OF the
Health Board yesterday, 10 be present at an inveStl
cation which was conducted by President Wilson ana
Commissioner BRYANT. The whole afternoon was spent
in tho inquiry.
The report was believed to have been inspired
by an attendant who duty in one OF the pa9il-
ions for . time. but was discharged few days ago
on account OF characterization and neglect OF duN
Dr. PerciyaI said that his staff of assistants included
one matron eleven female nurses ten male nurses
and sixteen ward helpers, most Of whom were Kept on
duty in and about the four pavons. At no time. day
or night he said the patients or suspects left
without attendants in any OF the payilonS. The care
given 10 the fever patients the island, Dr. Perciva
said was proved by the small death rate. Only five
per cent is the present rate of mortality, while NOR
taty OF over forty per cent is not uncommon In typus
fever cases The statements concerning the condition
OF affairs in the quarantine tents, Dr. Percivh said
we're utterly false. lie personally visited the tents
twice oh day. and the attendants took the temperature
of the occupants once every twelve hours The nurses
and attendants gowns when they were on duty
in the pavions, and put them of when they went 10
dinner, walking In the open air from the pavnons ID
the dining room No disease has ever been carried
from one pavilion to another by the nurses. The Com
msoners said last evening that there appeared u DO
no foundation for the report which, If 1t were believed
10 be true might cause the conceament OF typhns
fever cases In this city and thus greatly increase the
danger to the public.
The effect OF the report shown yesterday In the
case If Freeman Slberstein. twenty four years old,
who was found sick from typhus fever at No. 235
Rroomest His relatives had read the report, and
they endea to prevent his removal TO the island
Dr. Cyrus GsOn had to call policemen into the house
TO prevent trouble when silbersein was removed IL
WIS not known how SibcTstein contracted the fever
Persons who aid in cOnceahng case Of contagious dis
ease in the city may be fined and imprisoned.
Two Of typhus fever patients on the island died
Yesterday one of them Ernest Noble the orderly
who was employed in the Reception Hospital In East
sixteenth and caught the fever there from patients
whom helped transfer 10 the lsand. lie Othcr
victim was August Ierde cook who caught The fever
in the Phoenix lodging house. at No. 90 bowery