The Western news., 1901-05-15
State Beard Of Health Interested
Analysis Of Soil and Water to be
rlade--AutOpsy to Be Held.

I<oCOihSCt, VI butte, ana HOV. 1OOlc
and Attorney General Donovan; the
latter two gentlemen being ex-offico
members.
In a letter published in the Helena
papers last week DR.. Parsons, of Mis-
soula, described the disease as similar
to cerebro-spinal meningitis, or spot
ted fever" but which attacks adults
instead OF children, as is usually the
case. He said, however, that he had
discovered symptoms tha, lend color |
to the belief that the malady is not
''spotted fever.'
The state authorities appear to be
alive to the situation and propose 10
do their utmost to improve it.
Commissioner Ferguson and an ex-
pert chemist, T.. Starr, came over
from Helena to Missoula last Thurs |
day and are now investigating the
matter. They should receive every |
assistance from the local boards of
health and the physicians.
Concerning their mission the Helena
Independent of last Friday says:
Labor Commissioned Ferguson, in
conjunction with the state board OF
health, is going to make determined
effort to locate the cause of the pre-
valence OF what is commonly known
as spotted fever,' and which has
proved fatal in so many cases IN
certain section of the Bitter Root
valley.
The section to which the disease
mas been confined is in that part Of
the Bitter Root in the vicinity of
Lo Lo, on the west side of the river,
and on the tributaries on tnat side.
Several years ago diphtheria was pre-
valent in the same section, and it may
be that there is some connection be-
tween the two diseases, or at least
that the source of contagion is the
same. From investigations that have
been made, it is pretty well settled
fact.that the disease is not communi-
cable by personal contact. but that it
| - A'Ss' AAoAAA S0uAS 1AAPallly III Tic
) water or soil. What this inlpurity is,
, the state board of health and the com.
missioner, will indcavor to find out.
In conformity with this idea, DIR.
Emil Starr the chemist, and Mr.. Fer
guson, will leave on Saturday for the
, Bitter Root. Mr.. Starr will visit the
infected district and procure speci-
mems of the water and soil, which he
will afterwards analyze, Mr.. Fergu-
, SON will visit the physicians in the vi.
cinity and endeavor to make an ar
range1nent with them so that an au.
topsy may be held, and if this can be
done, it is hoped that with the work
to be done by Mr.. Starr some light
may be thrown upon the subject.
The disease has been prevalent
more or less up there for some time
said Mr.. Ferguson last night. Under
the law it is the duty of my Office to
make Investigations of health condi-
, tions, and that is the reason l am TAX.
ing an interest in this matter. OF
course am working in connection
with the state board of health, but it
so happens that have fund which I
can use for the work. From what i
have been able to learn the disease Is
more prevalent in the logging camps
on the west side of the river and III
one locality. While there has been
deaths in other sections, the origin has
been traced to the vicinity of Lo Lo.
In every case of the disease, where
there has been no mistake about the
diagnosis, it mas proven fatal. This
evening received word of two more
cases ending fatally, and Mr.. McDon-
aid, about whom DIR. Parsons wrote
me is in serious condition. With the
removal of the forests there seems to
be an increase of the disease.
..Those who have investigated it
have come to the conclusion that the
trouble is either in the soil or
in the water, and the investiga-
/ tion of those possible sources of con-
tagion will be made by Mr.. Starr.
In case of an autopsy, Secretary
Longeway, of the state board of health
i will be present, and also some other
physician. # possible it is my desire
that every medical man on the state
board of health be present when an
autopsy is held. The conditions are
most serious in that section, and the
scientific men who have talked with
me about the, disease are of one
i opinion, that 1t is due 10 some or
/ ganism in the soil, or water 1t
j we can but determine what
that organism is, then we will
| be able to intelligently COM
bat it. Until we do find cut what the
| trouble is, we are all at sea. Living
in Missoula, have naturally had my
attention called to the situation, hav-
ing a large acquaintance III the section
| where the pcopis are afflicted, have
probably been more interested than if
| was stranger, MIR. Starr and my
self will 30 up to Lo Lo about Sunday,
and will make our investigation as