Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-27
MENINGITIS SCARE WAS
AMONG NEGRO WORKMEN
Situation Well in Hand Says
Or, Benedict, in His Re-
port to Governor

written report on the state board
of health's investigation of the alleged
epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis at
Midwife was made to Governor Brown
Thursday morning by DR.. K. c. Benedict,
president OF the board
DR.. Benedict states that of the eigh-
teen persons in the Midwife section who
contracted meningitis twelve died, and
that eleven of those who succumbed
were negroes. He says the situation APP
pears well in hand and that there have
been no new cases reported since Mon
day
Following is copy of DR.. Benedicts
report to the governor:
Athens, Ga, Dec. "a, 1912.
THE Hon. Joseph NJ. Brown, Governor,
Atlanta:
MY Dear Governor: l returned from
Augusta this afternoon and beg to make
you the following report as to past and
present conditions in Burke county as
to the epidemic there. Two weeks ago
there developed on the Inman place,
nine miles east of Midwife. two cases
of cerebro-spinal meningitis, which place
is operated by Mr.. Nelly, of Waynes-
boro, and who employs over 200 negro
hands.
Five cases developed rapidly there
with quick deaths. There was no eff
ficient quarantine employed, if any at
all, and there appeared other cases in
portions of the county at once. The
disease was very virulent and with but
one physician to care for the patients
He did as we'll as he could, but the
disease was of a malignant type, and
as a result he soon worked himself
down and had to leave.
49, 4Arxzxt II
as freely as desired and in sufficient
quantities, so far as I can ascertain.
NY first knowledge of the trouble
came from DR.. Harris Thursday even
ing, December 19. He informed me that
he had been furnishing serum and had
advised a rigid quarantine. This has
proven effective in past situations of
this kind. enabling local doctors to
promptly control the trouble.
I'm Burke county there was a lack
of physicians to properly handle the
epidemic. but this was not ascertained
until there had been ten deaths. ?Under
the law controlling the state board of
health we have neither authority nor
money to provide services Of physicians,
but / instructed DR. Harris to have
Or. Park. our new man for publicity, and
who was in Boston taking a special
course, to proceed at once to Midwife.
"On Sunday, finding that the situation
was more acute than we had known.
ordered DR.. Harris to proceed at once
to Midwife. make an investigation and
report to the executive committee in
Augusta. His report showed that DR..
Kershaw, of Augusta, who had been
sent down by Mr.. Nelly, had established
a quarantine; that affairs were quiet as
to Midwife and Burke county, and that
there were no new cases.
The fatalities. with one exception
were al lamong negroes. The white pa
tient died at a sawmill five miles from
the Nicely farm. Two sisters, who came
from the Aiken S. c.. developed mimi
gifts, but are now recovering. So far
there have been eighteen cases with
twelve deaths. There are now six cases
under treatmnt.
There have been no new cases or
deaths since Monday morning. DR.. Park
is on the ground with instructions to
enforce a rigid quarantine against each
case and to assist the local physician
in every way possible.
II feel that the disease is under con-
troll. 1 will keep in daily touch with
conditions through Or. Park and If the
need should develop will not hesitate
to call on the marine service, but do