Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-06
Two Cases of the Dread Disease
Have Been Reported From
Sioux City
MAY BE COMING WESTWARD
Epidemic Which is Raging in New
York With Such Fatal Results is
Likely to Reach the West-1solated
Cases Noted in chicaso-symptoms
Of the Disease.
to Times Republican.
Of the Disease

Special to Times Republican.
Sioux City, April 6.-As a result OF
the discovery of what are believed TO
be two cases of cerebro spinal menin-
pitis or "spotted fever" in Sioux City
during the past week, Sioux City phys
icians are beginning to fear that the
awful epidemic of the fatal disease
which is raging in New York and in
other cities in the east, may reach
Sioux City.
About week ago a physician was
called to attend child. On diagnos-
ing the case, the physician discovered
all the symptoms of the fatal disease
The child had become suddenly i'll dur
ing the night. He was taken with a
high fever. His head was thrown back
in the position of sufferer from the
dread malady. |!
A few hours later the child broke
out with red spots, a Symptom which
generally accompanies the disease.
Tho he was at loss to name the
disease, at first, the latter symptom
made it evident to the physician that
it was a case of spotted fever. For
tunately for the little sufferer the at
tack was met in it's incipiency, and in
few days the child was we'll. The
second case was not so marked, all
tho it was believed to have been one
of cerebro spinal meningitis.
Fear Western Invasion.
In view of the epidemics of the dis
ease which ragged thruout the Unit
ed States in 1880 and 1850, Sioux City
physicians fear there is a probability
of it's invading the west again this
year. Physicians who have made the.
disease study say the epidemic start
ed in the same way during those times
as it has this year in the east.
1t is believed the present epidemic
was brought over from Europe. 1t
started at first in New York city,
where the health officers say over 1900
cases have been discovered since the
first of January. Out of this number
6S1 have died. 1t is believed even
now, after the epidemic has ragged for
three months, it has not yet reached
its height
kaCCOluilS5 " Tie IGCOTuS OIL II1G HOS-
pitfalls the death rate has been over
40 per cent. Generally, however, it is
even higher than that, reaching in
some localities as much as 20 per cent.
Reached Chicago.
Since the epidemic has broken out
in New York City, other cities in that
locality have been invaded by the
disease and yesterday several deaths
in Chicago were reported. Prior to
that time one or two patients had sue
cumbed to the disease. In the smaller
localities about New York City num-
Der Of deaths has occurred.
Because of this, Sioux City physic-
ians are watching closely, for any in
-dication of the arrival of the epidemic
here. The fact that two probable cases
have already occurred here, and that
the epidemic is travelling west in the
same manner as in years past has
caused the physicians here to become
apprehensive.
While the disease is not always con-
fined to children, generally the disease
RACES among the very young, Such has
been the case in the east during the
present outbreak. Spotted fever gem
orally attacks poorly nourished chill
dren, and, in the miserable squalid
tenentn houses of the cities the suf-
fering is terrible.
Symptoms of Disease.
The symptoms Of the disease are pc
cviiar. In many cases the patient be-
comes almost rigid, and cannot bear
to be touched, so intense is the pain.
The head is thrown back, and the neck
is stiff, due to the great Inflammation
at the base of the brain. The men
inges, or covering Of the cerebrum, be-
come inflamed, and this Inflammation
frequently extends to the spinal cord
Later, the red spots appear on the
body. The temperature is exceeding
ly high, and the pulse low.
Many physicians believe that the
epidemic Is due to a germ, altho this
is matter that has not been definitely
determined The disease occurs in cpl
demic and sporadic forms. AS rule
the country districts have been more
afflicted than cities. The outbreaks
have occurred most frequently in
spring. Over-exertion, depressing men
tai and bodily surroundings and the
misery and squalor Of the large tene-
ment houses in cities are predominant
ing causes. The disease seems to be
not directly contagious, and is prob
ably not transmitted by the clothing
or excretions. Death generally occurs