The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-10-16

The current number of American
Medicine furnishes the report of DR..
John F. Anderson, of the Marine hos
pital service, who investigated the
spotted fever in the Bitter Root re-
gion last spring. This is the second
investigation. The first was made
by Drs. Wilson and Chowning, of the
University of Minnesota, in 1902.
Concerning the causation and dis
tuition of this new disease, DR.. An
delson says:
THE disease has been known in
| the valley of the Bitter Root for
about 20 years. 1t is sharply local
lied on the west bank of the Bitter
Root river. no cases having occurred
ON the east side of the river in per-
sons who had not visited the west
side. Certain places in the valley
seemed to be more heavily infected
than others. Nine cases have occur
red in the canyon of Rock creek.
| about 20 miles east of the Bitter
| Root.
"The disease has been known in
Idaho for number Of years, the
| first published description of the dis
ease having been made by Dr. E. E.
Maxey in the Portland Sentinel Oct.
9, 1899. In Idaho the disease pre-
walls throughout almost the entire
valley of the Snake river, it's tribu-
taries and the foothills of the neigh
boring mountains. The disease has
been reported in the valley of the
Quinn river. Nevada; at Cody and
| N in N
Oregon. Tho disease has not been
reported south of 40 degrees or north
of AZ degrees 1t prevails at an
average elevation Of from 5000 to
1000 feet above sea level.
| Cases occur exclusively in the
spring and early summer. The ear
Hest case in the Bitter Root valley
was March H. and the latest July
20. All occupations that cause per-
son to be exposed to the bite Of
ticks. such as stockmen. sheep herd
ers. miners. etc. and those whose
occupation takes them into the brush
are especially liable to the disease.
Persons from Is years to so years
of age more often contract the lis
ease on account of being more active
ly engaged in outdoor work. The
youngest patient was IS months and
the oldest "A years of age. In 121
cases. IS were males and As females.
The germ is similar in way to
the parasite of malaria and Texas
cattle fevers. but differs materially
from them in it's behavior 1t Is
ovoid in shape and is found within
the blood corpuscles. DR.. Wilson has
selected as a name for the parasite
lpyroplasma hominis.
DR.. Anderson suggests the name
"tick fever" for the disease. but he
says that while the facts and his con
clusons point toward the tick as the
active agent in disseminating the dis
ease, the actual cause cannot be
proved until carefully controlled ex
periments are made on nOn-immune
persons.
Evidently Montana is i'll favored
for the mortality from this disease Is
: more than 20 per cent as against
two per cent for Nevada Idaho, Ore
eon and Wyoming. Death usual!
| occurs the doctor states. between
the sixth and the twelfth day.
The most pleasing feature of thu
, experts paper is that relating t
treatment. Quinine he considers tn
remedy. but it should be given hypu
, dermically and special form of TIL
drug should be used. He states tina
of five cases treated by the quinin
method, all recovered. while of tn
. five not so treated. all died. Whll
this is not conclusive evidence at al
f., there is strong reason for follow
: ing the treatment suggested.
y AS to the local treatment. the doc
tor says: "As soon as a person |
bitten by tick the insect should b
=. removed and the place cauteriZe
with 95 per cent carboic acid. Their
is sometimes difficulty in remOvin
the tick. but by applying ammonia
>, turpentine. kerosene or carboize
: yaseline it can usually be dotache
without trouble
The Montana state board of healt
is responsible for this investigate
II and should receive credit for 1t
II work There has been need Of it &c
u years. and this is an example of ii
usefulness.