The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-12-26
TYPHOID
FEVER AT
PRISON
Two Deaths Have Already
Resulted
Only a Few Cases at the
Asylum

Two deaths from typhoid fever
have resulted at the Oregon state pen
itentiary. The first convict to defeat
his sentence was ed. Cantowine. who
was serving en- IS months sentence
for larceny in a store, committed in
Umatilla He was received in Janu.
ary 1902, and died on December nth.
On Sunday morning last Andrew
White, who was serving five years
sentence for manslaughter, committed
in Multnomah county, also died from
the same disease.
A total OF 20 cases of typhoid fever
have been or are now being treated
at the prison OF that number 16 are
now under the care of the prison ply.
slclan, Or. w. A. Cusick Only three
OF the 16 are considered in serious
condition, the rest being convalescent.
William Heitmiller, of Tnlamook
county, a five-yoar man, is in a critic.
al condition, and may not live Among
the others that have contracted the
fever are Frank McDaniels, up for Is
years from Mutnomah.
The prevalence of this fever at the
prison naturally suggests the inquiry
as to its origin superintendent Lee
reports that the sanitary conditions
about the institution are good, and an
inspection Of the apartments shows
that they are kept scrupulousIy clean.
The sewage system is claimed to be
adequate for the needs OF the institu.
tion. The superin.en further re.
ports that none of the water from Mill
creek Is used for drinking or cooking
purposes. All water that Is used for
drinking is drawn from a well that Is
devoted to the needs of both prisoners
and officers. In Wow of this fact. Il is
contended that the blame for the few.
er can by no means be placed with
the water It Is the opinion of Super.
intendent Ice that the cause Of ty.
phold fever at the prison may be
traced more directly to the unusual
climatic conditions that prevailed in
this locality throughout the fall. in
that there has been an absence of the
usual frosts. and all vegetation has
passed through a stase of partial de.
composition.
When the fever first appeared at
the prison, il developed that the hos
pital quarters would prove too small
for the accommodation Of the sick. To
meet the needs. the new kitchen was
converted into a hospital. As the
number of sick prisoners increased
Superintendent Lee states that he en-
ployed additional help, including a
day and night nurse, and took every
precaution to prevent the further
spread Of the disease among the prls-
oners, and also provided the patients
with every attention that the treat
ment Of the fever required. The diet
OF all the prisoners was changed as a
means of preventing further conta.
gion, and no expense has been spared
by the prison management 10 handle
the malady. The percentage Of the
prisoners that has taken the fever is
not unusual, being less than 7 per
cent. out of a total of S25 prisoners
there have been only a total of 20
cases.
The biennial report of Superintend.
ent Lee, now in the hands of the state
printer will show that during the 21
months covered in the report there
was not single death in the prison
from sickness. This is an exceptional
record, and goes to indicate that con.
iitions at this institution must be
lealthfuL
Many Cases in Reform School.
superintendent Bickers, OF the state
'eform school, reports that during the
past six weeks there have been 26
,ases Of typhus fever at the school.
With no deaths. OF that number only
hree We're seriously ill., This is an
unusual record
Few Cases at Asylum.
With a population many times great
II than any OF the other state insti- |
utions, the insane asylum has had a |
ever number OF cases of typhoid |
ever than either the state prison or
he reform school. The number of pa.
tents at the hospital for the insane is
yer 1900, There has been TO tai of
My II cases of typhus at the asylum
his winter and of that number there
as not been death. OF the cases IL
iere men patients, and the rest were
n the female wards. In addition TO
hese cases among the patients, there
ave been five cases among the at
endants, three gentlemen and two la
les.
In discussing the cause for the fever
I this institution. Superintendent Cal
reath says that. in his opinion, the
of the water from Mill creek