Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-18
CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO
AID PLAGUE FIGHT


continued today with federal expert
helping the local health department.
The 24s persons who arrived here two
weeks ago on the steamer Moltke and
are still under observation will under
60 bacteriologic examinations, and
more rigid quarantine will be enforced
at Swinburne island, where fifteen
cases OF the disease are confined with
four others under suspicion.
These cases, with the six deaths
2 that have occurred since the Moltke
brought the germs here from Naples.
show the reality of the danger to le
city from the epidemic now raging in
southern Europe.
While nothing even approaching a
panic exists here now. the situation Is
receiving attention and DR.. Alvah H.
Doty,, health officer Of the port. has
felt called upon to issue reassurlng
statement. Dr. Doty says that the
cholera germ can be received In one
way only, through the mouth. and that
there is no danger in ordinary contact
with persons who have the disease.
However. Charles Dushkins, counsel
for the complainAnts, at the inyestiga-
tion Of DF. Doty's official conduct now
( III progress, declares his belief that
the cholera patients now in the hos
pftal caught the disease not on the
steamer, but at the immigration sta
tion where all the passengers were de-
tanned after landing.
The danger, or rather the under
standing Of It, Is further Increased by
the comparatively recent medical
knowledge of"cholera carriers" These
persons, DR.. Doty says, may transmit
the germs although themselves abso:
lutely free from their i'll effects, and
be as great a menace to others as
man dying from the disease.
Another. death from cholera oc-
CURED during the night at the Swim
burne island hospital, making the total
six. The latest victim is Francis Far
ander, aged II. The quarantine Off.
GERS said today that conditions at Hoff-
man island were satisfactory The
steamer Perugia, from the Mediter.
ranean is still at anchor in quarantine,
while her passengers are under obser-
vation.
The death OF Patrick Cushing, a resi-
dent American and former day watch
man at Hoffman island quarantine sta
ton, from Asiatic cholera was the first
to arouse fear in New York that the
scourge may spread. Vigorous steps
were taken today to stamp out infec-
ton.
The ward in the hospital on Staten
island, where Cushing lay for twenty
four hours, supposedly i'll OF ptomaine
poisoning. has been closed and fumi.
gated while strict quarantine has
been established at his home.
No cases Of cholera were found
among the 261 passengers and 81 mem
bers OF the crew OF the Perugia. All
persons aboard, however, remain un-
der close observation. The ship is be-
ing disinfected.
consuls TO Aid Cholera Fight.
washington. D. c., July 17.-The
entire public health machinery of the
government has been put in motion to
fight off the cholera invasion from
Europe. All consul reports from
Europe bearing on cases at any points
are being carefully studied by officials
here. and the public health office at
Naples has been instructed to cable a
report every five days as to develop
ments in the epidemic that is ravag-
inx italy. All ships are being watched
here and abroad and special instruc-
tions have been issued throughout the
service to safeguard this country from
the disease. Surgeon General Wyman
said there was no change in the situa-
tion today and that he was awaiting
further advices from Italy.
Cholera Deaths Abroad.
Chiasso, Switzerland. July 1.-THE
London reports Of the number OF chol-
era victims at Palmero, Italy, since
May 2. are exaggerated, according to
information received here.
Although 1t cannot be known. with
official exactness, the dead at Palermo
may reach 230, but not $500 as has
been stated.
The cholera situation, both at Paler.
mo and Naples, is now said to be i'm
proving. In Palermo the daily death
average is twenty, and at Naples
twelve. At Leghorn there have been
= total of thirteen deaths since the
epidemic first appeared. while at
Snezia the fatalities have numbered
seven, :. RgesAia three, at Pisa one.