The San Francisco call., 1896-11-11
BOWED TO THE
DREAD BER|BERI
a Case of the Terrible
Oriental Disease in
This City.
G. Ishawaka, a Young Japanese
Farmer, the Unfortunate
Victim.
SUFFERED SEVERAL YEARS
A Sickness That Makes Men Like
Animals and for Which No Cure
Has Been Found
SUFFERED SEVERAL YEARS.

For the first time in many years a case
OF that terrible disease called beriberi, the
terror of the inhabitants of India, Japan
and Ceylon, to which countries it is
mainly confined, has made its appearance
in San Francisco, and. as is invariably the
case, the victim has succumbed.
The victim was G. Ishiwaka. a Japanese
farmer, % years of age, who died on Mon
day at the Japanese lodging-house at 27O
Brannan street after lingering illness of
at least three years.
Beriberi is more dreaded by Orientals
than even leprosy. the 'living death" and
in the countries where it is prevalent is
generally designated as 1.-The slow death"
Beriberi is a Singalese word that means
"the greatest weakness.
The victims are generally young men or
men in the prime of life, and though emf
nent physicians have searched long and
earnestly for the origin and cure, it has
baffled all their efforts and is ranked to-
day among the hopeless diseases. The
first symptoms are. not alarming, being
merely muscular weakness, to which
usually little heed is paid. Gradually the
disease spreads from muscle 20 muscle
until the entire trunk is within its grasp
and then the brain is attacked.
Sensory weakness. so gradual that the
victim does not at first notice it, epsues
and slow degeneration progresses to the
end.
Anemia, paralysis and widespread in
hammation of the nerves are among the
last symptoms of the disease, but these do
not generally make their appearance until
the patient has faced "the slow DEATH for
years. The japanese we'll know the hope
lessness of trying for cure, but with the
stoicism of their race plod on until sheer
weakness compels them to lie down and
wait for the day when death comes to
their relief.
Shortly after the disease attacks the
brain 1t is not intrequently the case that
the victims initiate the actions of sheep
and other animals. They go on all fours
from inability to stand erect, and as the
nerve centers become more and more
affected the animal characteristics become
more and more marked until they are a
constant care to those who harbor them.
One OF the most terrible characteristics
OF the disease is the constant conscious
ness Of slowly approaching death. Hope
less and despalring the unfortunate drags
out weary existence until the vital spark
hlckers out and relief comes.
As far as the records of the Health De-
partment show this is the first case in San
Francisco in three years and the fourth in
the last twenty years.
When Ishlwaka first arrived in this CITY
from Japan, two years ago, his symptoms
were not fully developed and he worked
at farming for some time. Gradually, how
ever, he grew weaker and finally became
charge on his countrymen, who cared for
him until his death.
DR.. NJ. Tsumagi, the Japanese physician
who was called to attend him, tried every
available remedy to stay the march of the
disease, but without avail, and the patient
constantly reminded him that it was use
less and that he must die.