Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1902-01-19
OFFICIAL REPORT.
Dr.. Lee Files His Statement
With the Governor.

member Of the State Board OF
Hatlth.. and has returned to this city
made the following report to the
Governor:
Carson City, January 49, 1902.
To HIS Excel!SrnSy, Reinhold Sadler'l
Governor OF Nevada:
Governor
In compliance with request OF your
! Secretary, Mr. Davis, l proceeded to
Tonopah Nye county, Nevada, on !
Monday, January 18th to investigate
the deplorable condition that obtained
in that Camp: i. e., sanitation, the
water supply, the habitations and the
causes that lead up to such fearful
death rate OF its citizens.
Upon my arrival there l found a
condition that amounted to panic.
An epidemic OF pneumonia, with
' complications, broke out there on the
y
tween that date and January 18th. sew
enteen deaths occurred However on
ly thirteen OF the above number died
OF the disease nand Thre were TWEEN
y ty-six (26) cases OF an aggravated
i, character and 81 per cent OF them died
In addition to this number there were
thirty or forty cases similar in chara-
cter, but nilder in form, all OF whom
recovered.
Much difference OF opinion existed
! in the minds OF the physicians resident
!. as to the character OF the disease and
he cause OF it. All agree however,
| .islt disease oi the lungs existed with
> each AMI every case.
= 1t was unfortunate that only one au-
topsy was made Had more been per
) formed a more perfect knowledge OF
% the pathology would have been obtain
ed. From the date that | was enabled
to acquire | have no llesitancy in say
lie ing that the disease is pneumonia il
m character but complicated with conges
ton OF the liver in most cases ane
gastric disturbances and weak heart
" i'll all OF them.
The disease is similar in cllaracte
10 thai which prevailed i'll Hamilton
~ Eureka Phoebe in the late COS an
f. early '7o's and like that in 1889
g Alter as thoroughly investigator!
the matter as it was possible to do i
as d period OF thirty-siN hours | see n
Il cause for panic-or to look upon tn
ne disease that exited in Tonopah as on
OF mysterious character That tn
-, mortality has been great is conceded
;, but no more so than occurred in tn
;. towns | have previously mentioned
The rate OF mortality might have bee
much less great had the sick been be-
d ter housed. Lying, as most OF ther
ne did in tents, a proper regulation
Ill temperature could not be secured.
as The sanitary conditions OF the tow
is bad and the water supply, if poss
Bile, has been worse, both OF whic
however. could be almost perfect
corrected
Too much credit cannot be give
to the energy, generosity and wiSdo
ne, Immediately put small hospital bull,
ed ing and moved their sick members il
en to it as soon as possible after the
were stricken down, and secured ii
best nurses obtainable to care for IL
{" sick after they were moved in.
Us The General Manager of the Ton
~ pah company, Mr.. Oddie, was al:
very energetic and liberal in his don
San tons to relieve the afflicted
err 1t is almost unjust, however,
i'll mention one individual above anoth
in this matter, for every one gave
his substance or time to aid the af
ess icted.
to Your Excellency, this may be an i
nal opportune time, but | cannot refra
from urging The necessity for a grea
er appropriation for the use of Il
State Board of Health when our ne
Legislature convenes.
Respectfully Submitted.
S. L. LEE, NJ. D.,
the Secretary State Board OF Heal,