The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-24

Whicn Afforded firSh co'ii air anu IL
prospect at once attractive anu salu-
hrious. II had been selected. therefore.
by several of the large mill owners for
their summer homes These had been
followed by others. until the place now
contained a large number of magniti-
cent residences surrounded by well laid
out parks.
Such q population. of course. attract
ed the usual quota of tradesmen, me-
chanics. and so forth, and an active and
iiourishing town had resulted from the
desire of a few manufacturing mag
mates to have their pleasures some
where near their business interests.
1t was scarcely IL month since this
charming spot had given birth to an
epidemic which bade fair TO more than
decimats its population. and which had
utterly baffled local and eNtra-local
professional skill. M one seemed To
know how it had originated. and. worse
yet, no one had found any method Of
fighting il that promised. much less ac-
complished, the most modest success.
This was the situation when, on the
morning following our conversation.
Prof. Fournier and myself took our
seats in the compartment which had
been especially reserved for our use.
and saw Paris drop behind us. as the
train ratified out into the country.
For while we sa, in silence, which
he was first to break.
Have you followed especially the ac-
counts Of this Arteuil epidemic" he
asked.
Closely" said. bowing.
Have YOU noticed the curious fca-
lures connected with it,"
Il hardly know what you refer to-
\ ial hN,t s..Vint &C
of his manner. 1t Is. of course. most
remarkable in this epoch that a disease
unknown to the faculty should sudden
ly break out and rage within such cir
cumscribed limits
"Ah. You are approaching the point
] wish to make" he said. eagerly.
Have YOU not observed something
very remarkable about those limits"
stopped and thought for Il moment.
Then | seemed to catch his idea.
why. yes" l said. "now that you
speak of it. it is remarkable that the
disease has seized upon and confined
itself to what should be the most
healthy town in the entire province.
1t must come from something in the
water supply" added, with sudden
conviction.
You follow me in part" he con-
reports a little more closely YOU would
not have drawn your last conclusion.
You would have noticed that not only
was the disease confined to the health
lest town. but that it was practically
confined 20 what ought to he the
healthiest portion of the town. Look
at the list of deaths. 1t is not b.
the draper; j, the butcher, and
C.. the plumber 1t is NJ. tie L.,
owner of the chemical works at c..
1t is Mile. G-. only daughter of NJ.
C.. general manager of the P
print mills. or Nine. D. and NJ. Jules
D., wife and youngest son of the
junior partner of " 4 D. the
great silk manufacturers. VIII you give
me any rational explanation of this
phenomenon?
Il shook my head, deeply puzzled by
the proposition.
Furthermore. he continued ARE
you positive that the disease is new"
Certainly not" I FASTENED to say
Il cannot for moment presume it
to be. | merely said that II had not
heretofore been diagnosed by the fac
ulty."
DO you recall those cases at Montre-
vault two years ago. he asked.
With something of an effort ! re-
membered the three or four cases he
referred to and that their described
symptoms had closely resembled those
of the disease now ravaging Arteuil
] called his attention. however. to the
fact that the Montrevault cases had
not been seen by any but second-rate
country practitioners.
do you include your classmata
Toedt in that category" NJ asked
smiling family.
"I confess 7 had forgotten that
Toedt was at Montrevault," ] said.
He Is at Arteuil. too, Is he not, fight
ing the disease there?''
Prof. Fournier inclined his head.
''He is a brave fellow" | continued.
land his experience. under the cir
cumstances, must be invaluable"
''He does not succeed. though. any
better than anyone else" remarked
Fournier. IT'S curious thing. too"
he added. half to himself. that all the
victims at Montrevault We're members
of the family of Count de CT. the
late minister of war. This epidemic
is certainly an aristocratic complaint,
like gout."
lie relapsed into silence with these
wards. and. as they had given me much
food for reflection. ! did not try To re-
new the conversation. Half an hour
later he broke suddenly in upon my
thoughts with remark to the effect
that labor troubles seemed to have de-
cidedly increased since the death of
Counr de c. and the cessation of
his stern repressive measures.
As he spoke. Il sudden light seemed
To flash through my brain; a thought
too dreadful to he even put into words.
(To BE COntinuedD