New Britain herald., 1914-06-02
No Danger Of Disease Spreading, HGW ;Ver, Says Dr. Rocks.
BOY DIES SUDDENLY IN HOSP. .TAL
Medical Examiner Believed He Was Victim of Epidemic Form of Dread AiIment.-Went Swimming Satur- day and Became III Afterwards.

What at first was believed to be a case of cerebro-spinal meningitis of the epidemic form and which alarmed health officials for short time this morning has been shown to their sat- isfaction to be of a less dreadful va riety of the disease and they entertain no fear of its spreading.
 The attention of Health Superinten- dent T. Eben Reeks M. D., was first called to the case by Medical Examin- CT T. G. Wright after viewing the remains of Salvatore Gerbose, aged nine, of 495 South Main street, who died at the New Britain hospital at 1:30 o'clock this morning. The medi- cal examiner believed that death was caused by the epidemic form of meningitis but his fears have since been discovered to be unfounded, it is said. .s..
 Becomes III After Swim.
 The Gerbose boy, who was a pupil in the first grade at the Northend school, went swimming Saturday af- ternoon and in the evening com- plained of being seriously i'll. pr. John D. Greenberg was called to at tend him and ordered his removal to the hospital yesterday afternoon. The boy was admitted to the institution at 4:15 o'clock and nine hours later was dead of meningitis.
 Brothers Sickness Coincidence.
 When pr. Reeks learned of the case he went to the home of the boys father, Paul Gerbose, and in vestigated. He found a brother of the dead youngster also i'll but after ex-
 ho that the symptoms were not those or meningitis. To be on the safe side, . however, he fumigated the home The Father had been employed in Towers brick yard but has not worked Tor some time and is in destitute cir cumstances The boy will be buried at the expense of the town, J. M. Cur tin & Co having been given the. body.
 Looked Like Epidemic Form.
 Medical Examiner Wright told newspaperman that the case looked to him like the epidemic form of meningitis He said that if that were true Dr. Reeks could be counted on to take all precautions against it's spreading.
 Few Recover From Attacks.
 Cerebro-spinal meningitis is a dread disease from which few persons attacked recover. A serum has been found that has been used successfully in some cases but it is not depend able, according to physicians. The last cases of the disease in this city were last November, according to former Health Officer Henry T. Bray, M D. On that occasion two children on Miller and Brown streets were vic tims.
 Wouldn't Let Doctor in.
 It was rumored today that the hos pital authorities refused to admit the Gerbose boy into the hospital when he was taken there by Dr. Greenberg. Mrs. Jennie L. Bassett, the superin- tendent of the hospital, fiatly denied this rumor this afternoon. There was absolutely no question of admit ting the little boy, she said. But we would not let Dr. Greenberg attend him as it is against the rules of the hospital to allow an outside physician to attend patients in the ward. pr. Greenberg prescribed for the boy but we did not follow out his instructions as we knew that Dr. Bray, who is on the hospital staff, was on his way to the hospital