The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-12
CAN'T STOP IT.
Efforts to Break Up the Diph-
liberia Epidemic
Without Closing the Schools
Entirely Unsuccessful.
A KORRIFYING TALE.
Two Little Children Die in
One Bed
In the Anderson Family in
North Topeka.
One Attended Quincy School
Where Disease Appeared
ABOUTTWO WEEKS AGO
Stubborn Health Board Have
These Deaths to Account For.
List of Dead Doubled Since
First Appeared in School.

Nineteen deaths have now occurred
from diphtheria in Topeka.
Two more deaths were added to diph-
theria's list of victims last night. The
two children of C. F. Anderson of 1888
North Jacks on street, died within few
hours of each other. This is what few
so-called doctors in this town call a
mild epidemic
The girl, 8 years old, died at 8 o'clock
last night, and the boy, years old, at 2
o'clock this morning.
The circumstances surrounding the
death of these children is peculiarly sad
and almost horrifying.
Medicine had been sent there by DR..
Dawson, but the children had not been
thought dangerous and no visit was made
by Dr.. Dawson.
Dr. Raub, who was called in last night
after the death of the little girl, said TO
JOURNAL. reporter:
Il found Mrs. Anderson in a delicate
condition. soon to become a mother, and
the little girl lying dead in the same bed
with the brother, who was frightened
nearly to death and did die at O'Clock"
Mr.. Anderson was quarantined in the
house, but could not give attention to all
the sick.
Mrs. Audersoa's condition was such
that he was busy with her nearly all the
time.
How such a state of affairs could be
allowed 10 exist in Topeka is a mystery.
At o'clock the boy died
No one seems to know where the dis
ease was contracted, but the boy pre-
vious TO being sick attended the Quincy
school TWO weeks ago.
On Monday morning at 9:15 o'clock
Wilhelm Kruger died of dlphtheria and
was buried in the afternoon. The resi-
dence is on Elm street below the Santa Fe
shops.
From some cause this case was never
reported and none Of the undert&kers
knew of it.
The JOURNALS attention was called to
it by a neighbor of the Kreuger's. DR.
Mitchell appears to keep 10 really accu-
rate report of the cases or deaths.
DR.. l. A. Ryder, who is the attending
physician in the Weidner family on East
Fourth street, says three of the children
have diphtheria, and it is of very ma
lignant type. He fears for the worst.
Dr.. Ryder is not one of the "hush-up
matters Kind of doctors. It really looks
if some physicians wanted the disease
to spread SO there will be more "bus-
mess"
The farce of holding the Washington
schools open yesterday was carried out,
The judgment of the mothers
however, was better than that of
the powers that kept it open, and
only twenty pupils appeared out of
15o. This is a mockery and people are
protesting; but to almost deaf ears. On
West Sixth street it is reported on relia-
bic authority that milk peddler who
goes from house to house enters a "card-
ed" house between Fillmore and West
ern avenue every morning. As is we'll
known. milk is the easiest vehicie for
carrying diphtheria known to the medi-
cal profession
With the list of dead doubled isn't it
about time for DR.. Mitchell whose OBJ
stinacy amounts to almost crime, to open
his eyes 20 the enormity of his actions in
this diphtheria and do something to stop
it? If DR.. Mitchell will suggest the
closing of the schools the other members
CT the health board will doubtless ac-
quesce with him. They are not so
"bullheaded." This characteristic of
DR.. MitchelPs is we'll known and COM
merted On by other physicians in the
city. Stubborness is a good thing when
IN 4 is right, but its effects are terrible
when he IS wrong.
Mayor Fellows is also. in great pars.to
blame, for his suggestions would ind
ready ear with the health board; but he
refuses to say word in bshalf of tho
children Of Topeka. This shows what a
stubborn politician can dc. The people
will in time call these mistaken men to
account