Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-12
RED CROSS WORKERS BRING
CRUESOME STORIES OF The
TYPHuS SC0URCE IN SERBIA

New York, April 11.-Of the contingent
of six doctors and y nurses sent to Ser
ba by the American Red Cross Society
since the European war began, all but
four have contracted typhus, the disease
they are combating, according to DR.. M
p. Lane of New Orleans, Red Cross
doctor who arrived here today on the
steamship Finland from Mediterranean
ports.
DR.. Lane was accompanied by two red
Cross nurses, Miss Margaret Tulloss and
Miss Clare Sensher. They We're ordered
home by DIR. Ernest P. Magruder, head
of the Serbian contingent. who has since
died, to recuperate after they had them
selves been confined to the hospitals, VIC
TINS of the scourge.
Brought by Austrians
1T is impossible to convey in words
the condition of Serbia said DR.. Lane.
when we arrived we found the country
in the grip of an epidemic of recurrent
fever with high percentage OF fatality
Following the recurrent fever came the
scourge of typhus, brought into Serbia
evidently by Austrian prisoners. The To-
cal physicians, reinforced by medical at
taches of the various missionary socle-
ties, were utterly unable to combat it,
and in almost an incredibly short length
of time the disease was spread through
the entire country.
Deaths were so numerous that it was
hard to find means to dispose of the bod
les, cremating being the only solution of
the problem. In one day during the sec
ond week in February $50 deaths were re-
ported from typhus in the city of Nish
alone. over the entire country it is safe
to say that not less than two out of every
hundred people, including Serbians and
prisoners of war, have died, and the
death rate is rapidly increasing.
Need For Nurses
at will require strenuous efforts to
meet the contingency and successfully
combat it, Surgeons are not needed as
badly as are trained nurses who are will
ing to work. Sterilizing apparatus and
distnfectants are imperative. 1t is all
most impossible to obtain pure water
for drinking purposes, and the disease is
being spread through filth and vermin.
when we left Serbia Dr. Magruder
was we'll. and the news of his death first
reached me today on my arrival here.
AS he babe us good bye he told me he
had just received word that DR.. Ethan
hospital"
No Alarm in Egypt
The Rev. n. D. McClanahan, a mis-
sionary of the United Presbyterian
church located at Cairo, Egypt. was also
a passenger. He said that missionaries
and foreigners in Egypt felt no alarm
over war conditions. The government
had matters under full control. he said.
and every protection was being accorded.
Capt. Edward McCauley, U. S. ~, ma
val attache to the American attache at
Constantinople and recently in command
of the gunboat Scorpion, on duty in
Turkish waters, was on the inland. He
said on March II he turned over his COM
mand to Lieut.. Commander w. F. Brick
err who afterward was drowned by the
overturning of his cutter. Commander
McCauley said that when he left Turkey
no apprehension was apparent in Con-
stantinople as to possible danfer to for
eigners. Ambassador Morgenthau and
the American flag were highly respected
he said, and aside from some excitement
over the activities of the allied fleets at
tempting to force the Dardanelles, mat
tiers were no different than they have
been since the war started.
Officers of the Finland said that no hos
tile warships or submarines were sighted
during the voyage.
NATn AMI r0or--