The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-24
NO CAUSE FOR FEAR.
That Case Of Diphtheria at Gar
field Beach.
Opinions Of Eminent Physicians Are to The
Effect That Whatever Danger There Might
Have Been Has Passed.

For couple of days past there have
been ugly rumors afoat OF case of black
diphtheria st Garfield Beach. An investi-
cation yesterday proved that report to be
untrue, the facts being af follows: On the
18th a boy named jackson, about 10 years
of age, arrived at the beach from E. 7.
city, where he resided. He mingled with
the crowd on the pavilion for q short time
and then went TO the house Of the beach
Waterman, little shack situated a couple
of rods west of the electric power house
Later in the day he showed signs of i'll
ness. and an examination by physician
was made. The physician announced
q very bad case of diphtheria, and early
the next morning, the victim was removed
to his home at E. L. city, four miles west
of the beach, where he died within very
short time thereafter. A few days after
wards young man named Lee was at
tackled with the same dread disease, and
he expired on Monday at his home in e. Z.
city. He was employed as q section hand
on the Utah 81 Nevada road, but had no
connection whatever with the beach or any
of its employees.
AS soon as it was learned that the lad
Jackson had diphtheria, the house in
which he lay was closely quarantined, and
when he had been removed, it was
barricaded SO IS to prevent anyone
from approaching. Late last evening, in
order to make assurance doub bly, sure, it
was burned TO the ground-ths bedding
and other household appurtenances having
been previously destroyed. While this
proceeding was not thought to be al all
necessary, Superintendent Washburne said
he die not propose TO leave anything un-
done to ward off any danger, however re-
mote 1t might be.
Doctors STANDARD, Foster, Mclean and
Bascom, accompanied by representative
from each OF the city papers, went out to
the beach last evening on a special train.
ana made thorough inquiry into the mat
ter.
To a HERALD representative Captain
Douris said: 81 have had not the slightest
fear of any ccntagion. The boy jackson
was here but few hours In the Day and
one night. Save for the time he was on
the pavilion he was confined to the house.
The people who were with him in the
house were sent away over a week ago
the very next morning, and for the last
few days DR.. Silver has been here in con-
slant attendance watching the least symp-
tom that tended even toward throat
trouble. The engineer OF the steamboat
was sent to the hospital for throat
trouble, but it was disease to which he
diphtheria or anything approaching it. DIR.
Silver has been very attentive to all the
employees, but says he has seen no symp-
toms that at all alarm him."
DR.. Foster said: ~ do not see the slight
est reason for any alarm. or course, had
one come into immediate contact with the
lad at the time, it would have been posi-
BILE for him or her to have contracted the
disease, but the time has gone past when
there is any reason to feel any uneasluess,
and the place is just as free from diphthe-
ria as though the disease had never existed
there. / had made arrangements to bring
my family out this week, and this little
scare shall not deter ne from doing it''
DIR. STANDARD said: 81 do not regard the
event as having any importance. The
whole place has been thoroughly cleaned
and disinfected and whatever danger
there might have been at one time has long
since passed.
To all OF which Doctors Mclean and
Bascom assented.
THE DOCTORS CARD.
After returning from the beach last
evening. the following was agreed upon by
Que physicians as the facts upon which the
public has a right TO rely:
SALT LAKE CITY. Aug. %, 1892.
D. E. Burley Esq. General Passenger Agent
Union Pacific Railway:
DEAR SlR-In compliance with your REQUEST
we made special trip to Garfield Beach this
afternoon for the purpose of investigating the
conditions there with relation to the cases OF
diphtheria recently reported. We have in
vestigated thoroughly. and find that some ten
days ago child was brought from a neighbour
ing settlement TO the section house at Garfield,
Ill with diphtheria
From this case two others in the same family
were infected. All these were promptly re-
moved, and the premises quarantined aud dis
infected.
The employees at the beach have all been
subjected TO daily medical examination since
that time. and no further cases have developed
So long time has now elapsed that we deem it
impossible that other cases should occur at
Garfield from this infecticn especially since
the company has ordered the building with all
its contents burned We believe all possible
precautions have been taken by tho railroad
company; and, so far as we can learn, no other
buildings have been contaminated
+. S. BAScOM, M. d.
A. G. STANDARD M. d.
A. G. MAGICIAN, M D.
tf w. Foster ID