The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-10
CHAMBERS SEXES
VIRGINIA FARMER
Fatal Malady is Contracted by
Him While Treating
a Calf
HELD AT QUARANTINE:
NO HOPE FOR RECOVERY
Wife Braves Death and Insists
Upon Nursing Her Hus-
band, Despite Pro-
test of Doctors

WASHINGTON. .. c.. May To-
Becoming suddenly blind late yes,er-
day afternoon, Il. NJ. G. Combs, IL
Well-to-do farmer of Stafford county,
va, VINO also has a home In this city,
ana who, early yesterday morning
was found by the District health au-
thorites to be suffering from CHAMBERS
a fatal disease, is held a prisoner at
the District quarantine station. He is
under the immediate care of his wife.
trained nurse. who has insisted
upon attending her husband, despite
the warnings Of physicians that she
was running risk OF contracting the
deadly disease. Little hope for Mr..
combs recovery is entertained.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Combs are under
close guard at the quarantine station,
and no one but the health authorities
10 allowed to see them. Eight per-
sons living In the same house with
the Com bses at the time he WAS found
10 De suffering from CHAMBERS were
paced In quarantine yesterday after
noon. and orders were iasued by the
health authorities that they be sesre-
gated form every one but health of
hcials and physicians. The disease liz
considered highly contagious, and ev-
cry effort is being made to prevent
Its spread
Since his arrival at the quarantine
station Mr.. Combs condition has
grown steadily worse. When he ar
rived there his eyesight was falling.
and later yesterday afternoon 1t for
SOCK him altogether. In the whole
history OF medical science there is
SAID 10 be only one case Of glanders
recorded where tho patient recovered.
a
aHiictsd During the last twenty-five
ears ouly one other person In the
District has had thu disease, and that
person died
when MIS-. Combs was Informed hy
the physicians that her husband had
xlan ders. she bore up herotcaily, and
al once declared that she would allow
no ono else 10 attend him. She real
Uses that she may contract the disease.
~ 10 contagious that physicians
1uHy protected by every known device
have several times contracted TIA d.
ease while attending cases. They have
always died. Mr.. and Mrs. Combs
nave no children, and, therefore. Mrs
combs decided she could AFFORD Ia RIM
the risk of becoming infected for IN.
sake OF her husband.
Mr. Combs Is thought 10 have con-
tracted the disease from a calf On
mis- farm in Stafford county. Va. Two
weeks ago he was at his farm and
an operation on the calf
his wife later discovered that the cair
was afflicted with CHAMBERS and o,dsr-
ed IT killed. Chambers IL a disease
usually found in horses and other
animals seldom contract tt. wrhep
n orses are afflicted they are usually
abled Immediately to prevent infses
ton,
Suffers IAttIe Pain.
n peculiar phase OF the cage liz thai
Mr.. Combs so far has suffered Iittfa
pain. The physicians say the pain !.
not AkelF to become more acute. bur
shat the possules will gradually spread
20 othef parts or his body. They are
making every effort To save his life.
but have little hope that they VIII be
su &C ssfuI.
ihis Is the second case of human
kiahoers that have seen since l have
been In the District health depart
ntert, said DR.. Woodward yssterday
am certain that 1t is only the ses,
ohd reported within the last twenty
hNe years The disease In 20 rare
that second case would hardly be-
brought before q physician during his
lifetime. N''
We will make every effort .o s.vs
Mr Combs life and to prevent ths
spread OF the disease. The eight per
sons who live in the same house for.
merry occupied by Mr.. Combs have
been put In quarantine. and win be
Kept segregated for at least two
weeks"
pr. Flynn said yesterday that since
discovering the case he had read IN
extensively on glanders. and had
learned OF only one case In which the
person afflicted had recovered
Il have no hope that Mr., Comm.
viii recover" he continued. Even ~
he should. he will be blind for l,ya
AZ his eyesight is already gone. when
! first examined him he had every
OF appendicitis but when
made the second examination there
could be little doubt that he had CLAN
ders."
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