Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-16
NOT so SERIOUS
As Recently Reported By Some
Of the Newspapers,
Says Dr.. Young, Secretary Of the
State Board Of Health.
Concerning Rage Of Diphtheria At Fort Kent
Or. Johnson Reports.

The news of the diphtheria in Fort
Kent, taken from a Boston paper is an
exaggeration of the condition OF things;
nevertheless, the situation is serious
enough. Until a week ago, the reports
from there indicated that the local board
was doing fairly we'll; but, last Friday, a
week ago, a letter was received from the
board. asking the State Board of Health
to send a man to help them. At the re-
quest of this board, DR.. w. Johnson Of
Augusta, was sent with instructions to
investigate thoroughly the condition of
things, and to help the local board all he
possibly could. AS few cases have been
reported in at least two other places than
Fort Kent, he was instructed to visit all
neighboring towns or plantations in
which cases were heard of, and to see
that the local boards of health were prop
erly organized and to instruct and help
them.
Some time ago, a preliminary supply of
anti-toxin, an anti-toxic syringe, one or
Prof Robinsons fOrmaldehyde genera
tors and wood alcohol to use with it. were
sent to the local board, with detailed in
structions in regard to isolation. disin-
lection and other features in the manage
ment of the outbreak. A circular letter
was also sent to each of the Catholic
clergymen in the Madawaska region, ask
ing his help in explaining to the people
the necessity of observing great care not
to spread the infection. and of following
the advice of the local board and the at
tending physicians
DIR. johnson was also requested to in
form the State board in regard to the de-
gree of danger of the spread of the dis
ease to the other side of the river; for the
prevalence of the disease on the other
side of the line would react disastrously
upon the population on the American side.
AS it has been customary for the State
Board and the Provincial Board of Health
of New Brunswick to. cooperate. so far
as possible, in the control of epidemic dis
eases that occur on or near the border,
the secretary of the State Board has
written to the secretary of the Provincial
Board at Fredericton. calling his atten-
ton to the outbreak at Fort Kent that
he may instruct the local health officers
on his side of the line to be on the alert
for the urinary cases of. amy outbreaks
on the provincial side; sending. at the
same time: d copy of the rules and regu-
lations under which DR.. Johnson and the
local board of health at Fort Kent are
now working.
A letter from DR.. Johnson. written at
the end of his first days work, and re-
ceived, yesterday, states that he had Wis
tied % cases, that day. of which IA were
new cases, all of which received the anti
toxin treatment; that the local board of
health is anxious to do all that can be
done to stop the outbreak. and that the
municipal officers are cordially support
ing the local board of health in the work.
The doctor writes hopefully. saying that
with the hearty cooperation of officers.
of the priest and the people. he hopes to
send more favorable reports in a few
days. The cases of diphtheria have been
among the poorer class of French people.
and, as the local board has reported, five
or six miles from the village.