The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-01-04
REPORT OF THE HENRY CARR
FAMILY.

To satisfy the public inquiry, and to
correct the false report that has been
circulated, concerning the Henry 7.
Carr family who reside on the II. G..
Suppiee farm near Jerseytown. the
following account is given out for pub
lication
The sixteen year old daughter had
not been well for two days previous to
December 9th, and on the evening of
this day retired with her mother. Be-
coming restless during the night, and
trying to change her position, found
she was unable to do so, She awoke
her mother, who discovered that her
daughters lower limbs were paralized.
About ten O'Clock December 9TH,
was sent for to visit the patient, and
found all power of motion lost in the
lower extremities. On the following
day about noon, l made my second
visit, and found that the paralysis had
extended up the cord involving the
abdominal muscles, the arms, and
partially the respiratory muscles. At
this time l diagnosed the case Myeli-
tbs. DIR. Poust of Millville, was sum-
moned at my request in consultation,
who confirmed the preceding diagno.
sis. The cause of the disease we were
unable to discover at this time, but
were of the opinion that it was due to
some toxic poison. The case grew
gradually worse, and died at four p.
m. of the same day
December, 4th, | was summoned
to see the youngest son, a boy of
about seven, and found the same
symptoms that existed in the former
case preceding the paralysis. Within
forty eight hours the boy began to lose
the power of motion in his lower
limbs. The paralysis gradually con.
tinued, until the abdominal and lum-
bar muscles were involved The case
remained in this condition about one
week, and then gradually improved,
until now he has partially recovered
the use of the afflicted muscles. Ac.
cording to the present symptoms the
boy will fully recover.
On the night of the 10Th the oldest
boy became i'll, and on making my
daily morning visit, found him com
planning with the same symptoms as
the two preceding cases. On the
evening of the same day, DR.. Poust
accompanied me to see the patient,
and we diagnosed 1t the same as the
preceding cases, namely Myelitis, On
the evening of the 18th, motor paraly-
Sis began to exist in the lower limbs.
and gradually extended until all the
muscles were affected, except those of
the left hand. During this time l
made a close study of the food, drink
ing water, and drainage, but was un-
able to discover the suspected cause
of the disease.
At this time the neighbors, and not
the family, fearing an epidemic of
some contagious disease, summoned
physician from Bloomsburg, who came
there in my absence and pronounced
the case Spotted Fever.
Through the kindness of Mr.. H.
G.. Supplee, and interest in the family,
DR.. ID. w. Mears of Scranton, was
summoned, who examined the case.
without any knowledge of the diagno-
sis of the preceding physicians, and
came to the decision that it was Mye-
litis. The cause, however, he was
unable to determine, but supposed it
due to some poison. He was then
informed that it had been pronounced
case OF Spotted Fever.
Since the death of the oldest boy, |
have learned that while making apple
butter, the spider, Gan iron frame on
which the kettle rested), gave away,
and the cider was permitted to stand
some time in copper kettle before
the boiling was resumed. My suppo-
sition is that the disease has been
caused by chronic copper poison.
The apple butter will be tested by
chemist of the University of Pennsyl-
vania, and also one of Dick inson Col
lege, to ascertain the chemi cal ingre-
dents. The reports OF the chemists
will be published if desired.
II