The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-06
Local Physicians Aver That Neniu-
cites Is Not Contagious.
NO PERIOD OF INCUBATION
Or, Bishop Says Ne rhinkS Df, klsbss Made
Foolish AasNsr to Foolish QssS-
tiOa'- No Danger ia Astoria,


That is the question an Astorian reporter
put to several physicians yesterday All
agree that Il Is communicable only to a
very slight degree, and that there Is not
the slightest possible danger OF an cpi-
demlc of the disease In this city. II does
not thrive In such climate. although, of
course. there may be solitary cases. The
disease cannot be brought from Skagway,
50 there Is no occasion for a scare. The
case of willis Welch has attracted much
attention and has given ground TO the be-
Is what the physicians say:
Dr. j. A. Fulton--Cerebro spinal men
ingitis is not contagious disease In the
sense that smallpox, scarlatlna. etc. arc,
II Is perhaps very slightly contagious
where all the conditions OF both patients
and surroundings are favorable, II Is
perhaps about as contagious AS copsump-
tion, Certainly there Is not more proof
that Il is contagious than there Is oi con-
sumption being SO There should be alb
solutely no fear of the spread OF the dis
ease In the community. although am
strongly In favor Of always being on the
safe side in the management, OF any dis
ease whenever there Is the slightest pos
sihility OF its spreading.
DIR. A. A. Finch-I am OF the opinion
that cerebro spinal meningitis Is not what
might be termed contagious disease,
although l place great reliance In the
statement Of DIR. Klebes that II is COM
municable. That gentleman has probably
had more experience with such diseases
than any other physician living and his
statement carries great weight have
not the slightest fear OF a spread OF the
disease In this city.
Dr. o. Il. Estes-Cerebro spinal menin-
gifts Is not n contagious disease. Al
Skagway. where 1t is most prevalent II
has not reached a malignant form, The
number OF deaths has been greatly eN-
aggerated. There have not been more
than twenty-five deaths In all, yet reports
place the number at from fifteen 10 TWEEN
~ daily. From observations In Skegway
am positive that the disease Is not COM
municable. In the case OF the son OF DR..
Monette. who died OF the disease. there
was no cOntagion: neither was there IN
the casea OF James Hornbaker or ostran-
der. Those three patients were continu-
ally surrounded BY friends. none OF whom
contracted the disease. Up TO the time
left Skagway there were but eighteen
deaths from meningitis. In no case that
came TO my notice did the sufferer re-
cover. The disease is undoubtedly due 10
exposure and atmospheric conditions.
The cold wind that comes through the
pass az Skagway Is met by a heavier cur
rent OF air from the ocean and. TO a sys-
TEN that has been subjected to exposure
the result Is usually fatal. That por-
tiOn OF Skagway at which the two cur
rents OF air meet Is not more than four
blocks In extent and the disease IS con-
fined TO that district. II meningitis were
/ contagious there would be period OF in
I cubation. and this there is not There have
| been epldemics OF the disease. but In this
instance there is no epidemic. II there
was, why is II that no cases are reported
/ at Dyea, less than fouI miles distant from
Skagway? The disease Is not to be feared
/ In Astoria. as ii viii not spread.
| DIR. J. S. Bishop-The statement pub
| llshed In the Astorian regarding the con
!
and attributed to DIR. Edwin Klebes ! con-
slider most extraordinary. and to me only
| explainable by the supposition that Dr
Klebes considered the question a foolish
one and gave corresponding answer. The
/ disease Is one with which the generality
I OF the medical profession Is familiar and
/ the general character OF the disease II
well known. have yet TO find, after con-
siderable investigation. single authority
| that considers the disease contagious ex'
| cept possibly In a very slight degree, most
/ authorities pronouncing It definitely non
/ contagious. This statement is well borne
out by the history OF epidemics In this
country. II frequently does not appear IL
| the great avenues OF travel. but In spots
! remote from them. Nurses and attend
ants are not attacked by IT, While per
sons living in barracks and other crowded
localities seem to be susceptible to th'
disease, yet II is not a disease especially
prevalent in cities. which would be tbs
case were II contagious. The principal
predisposing causes are cold. fatigue ant
exhaustion from privatlon or illness That
/ II is due to the presence OF germ is very
probable. SO also are pneumonia and ty'
phoid fever, but we do not quarantine OF
dislnfect patients in epidemics Of either
Of these diseases. No one would be
alarmed for the health Of Astoria because
pneumonia OF typhoid fever was prevalent
IN Skagway. or II some cases came from
there here. There is no reason for alarm
in the case Of cerebro spinal meningitis
There are probably many persons In thb
city who have passed through an epidemic
Of this disease. and who know from per
sonal experience that It is not Catching,
for that is what contagious means n
common parlance. There Is absolutely
no need for alarm that we are in direct
communication with Skagway nor f.
there any need to quarantine vessels from
there or persons who may be taken slcl
after arrival.
DR.. u. l.. Henderson-Ccrebro spIna
meningitis Is very highly infectious, but
only slightly contagious. There IS not The
slightest danger OF an epidemic Of The
disease in this city.