The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1907-05-10
WAS NOT MENINGITIS.
But Ptomaine Poisoning-Cause Of
Arthur Belknap's Death-The
Funeral. 80

s.I am thoroughly familiar with all
the details attending the case of Ar
thur Belknap. who died yesterday
morning. was called to see him
Monday morning at o'clock and
found neither spinal nor brain dis
turbances. He complained of un-
easiness in the intestinal tract. had
a temperature of 1903, and his fever
ish condition presaged a case OF
ptomaine poisoning. saw the pa
tient again at P. M. and learned
that during the afternoon he had
several vomiting spells, and his
condition otherwise only strength
ened my first diagnosis Of ptomaine
poisoning. There was not even a
single indication of the usual symP-
toms of meningitis.
I acquainted his friends, who
were present, with the fact that the
case was a very serious one, and
requested them to notify me by tel
ephone, few hours later as to how
he was progressing. About 9 o.
clock some one phoned me and said
that his family physician had re-
turned and I readily consented to
have him take charge of the case.
The very next morning learned
that the patient had died and that
the cause of his death had been CIV
en- as spinal meningitis.
A great deal has been printed of
late regarding this malady and ma
ny of Our citizens have been reed
1essly alarmed. AS in the case at
hand, there is hardly any excuse
and certainly no cause for the at
tending physician to aggravate an
already overweight public senti-
ment."
The foregoing statement appear
ed in yesterdays Ofegonian over
the signature Of A. Tilzer, M. D.,
and is self explanatory. The mala.
dy has been accepted all along as
spinal meningitis, and because ol
the contagious character of the dis
ease, the funeral arrangements were
conducted accordingly. The re-
mains were in sealed casket, which
was not opened after leaving Port
land. Even the lid of the outer
box was not removed. Telegraph
ic inquiry was made to the Portland
authorities if it could be removed a
the grave, but permission was de-
MED. The boiy was not present
at the funeral which occurred ir
the First Methodist church at 10
80 yesterday. The remains arrived
from Portland Wednesday noon
and the funeral party was met a
the station by the cadet regimen
and band and escorted to the late
home. The college flag was athal
mast dnrilg the ceremony and 81
remained until after the funeral il
honor of its graduate dead.
At the funeral, large concours'
of friends attested the high esteem
in which the young man was held
The service was conducted by Rev
Feese and was very impressive
The floral offerings were among til
finest ever seen at a local funeral
Twelve members of his graduatin|
class were present and their oferin!
was a handsome floral piece. aTh
Amicitia society of which he was
leading member during his student
ship in college sent delegation an
their floral offering was .conspicuou
by its beauty. Another was by III
Sorosis society, the sister society {
the Amicitias, and a very hand
some emblem came from his. lat
co-workers in the city engineer
corps iu Portland with. whom b
was popular. Other pieces were b
the Epworth League, the Feronia
Literary society at the college, hi
Sunday school class at the Methe
dist church, the pupils in his sis
ter's room at the public school:
and offerings from scores of friend:
The cards and ribbons from th
floral offerings when removed atth
grave aggregated several bushels
The interment was in Cryst:
Lake cemetery beside the grave {
the father, E.. M. Belknap, wh
died about IS years ago.. The su,
viving members of the family a,
the widowed mother, sister and
brother. In the passing Of til
widows son, but now arrived {
the threshold Of manhood, an
possessed OF those graces and vi
tues of mind to make his liyin
worth while to the home id whie
he was 80 Important a factor. the
y is manifestation of how mysterio,
and how ununderstandable are tt
ways of death.