The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-14
Wednesday, July ID, 1897.
Curious State Of Affairs.

There seems to be ignorance OF medicine
and hygiene at Clemson or else there is an
evident desire to conceal facts from the pub
lie.
Last year an epidemic broke out among the
students.
This year the same thing occurred at the
college, aud, as a result, some OF the STU
dents are dead.
The proper authorities, as We understand
have a physician in charge.
That physician does not seem to know what
is wrong, and the general charge OF the SICK
ness is made to "malaria' with various specl'
fications.
Again: 1t has been said that the boys
bathed in the river below the " pipe. and
ate green plums.
But when it was ascertained that some OF
the sick had not eaten any green plums or
been in the river at all this theory was very
properly abandoned.
The State Board OF Health went there and
examined the place. They pronounced the
epidemic to be typhoid fever.
The Board OF Trustees have since held a
meeting. In their report, they are OF
opinion that the State Board Of Health were
mistaken.
Well, now, 1t matters not what the disease
may be. Call II by whatever name you
choose, the result is the same. If a large per
cent. OF the young men are sick, and Il deaths
occur, is 1t not idle to bubble about the name
OF the disease? 1t is a condition, and not a
theory that confronts the College.
Viewed from the standpoint of the Press
and Banner, somebody is 10 blame for what
seems TO be either criminal .carelessness or
disgraceful ignorance.
The idea that a physician cannot discrimi-
nate between malarial fever and typhoid
fever conveys the impression that such ad-
mission Is proof conclusive that the physi-
clan Is woefully ignorant of his profession.
It may be excusable for the ignorant coun-
try doctor to ak Of malaria" when he is
posing before laymen about a disease
which he is unable to diagnose. but for a
State officer in charge of the health and lives
OF hundreds Of students to talk thus Is
astounding and furnishes proof positive that
the wrong doctor is in charge. We assert,
without any fear Of successful contradiction
that no doctor who is unable TO distinguish
typhoid fever from malarial fever is At to
have charge Of any public institution.
To talk and bubble about the name OF the
disease whether this or that caused the
sickness-while the young men are sick and
<dying is unworthy OF public officials.
II the custodians Of that College have hired
q doctor who does not understand his bust
ness, he should be removed Immediately, and
II u man acquainted with hygiene and medi-
Gin cannot be had why let the trustees ap-
ply O little common sense and make instan.
taneous effort to remove The cause.
Will the trustees sit idle while the exercises
OF the College have been suspended, and while
students are dying?
We do not now remember where public Of
icers have been VIGOROUSLY more incompe.
tent Than have the physicians in charge OF
Clemson's health and Clemson's boys.
II the trustees would send for the horse doc
tor, he might be able to tell the difference be.
tween malarial fever and typhoid fever, and
being able to distinguish the fevers he might
be able to treat the sick. II a man sick with
typhoid fever Is treated for malarial fever
there may we'll be fear OF the result.