The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-16
STACKPOLE LOSES
FIGHT ON ANTHRAX
Physicians Believe Serum Was
EfficaciOus, but Was In
jcctcd Too Late.
! END COMES SUDDENLY

George F. Stackpole Of Riverhead. L.
l.. whose case had been the centre of
interest at Bellevue Hospital for six
days. died at 1897 o'clock yesterday
morning as n result OF the disease of
anthrax. The immediate cause Of death
was heart failure. brought on by the
poison in his system.
The physicians who attended him are
inclined to believe that the new serum,
prepared by DR.. Eichhorn OF the bu-
reau OF animal industry, and tried on
Mr.. Stackpole for the first time on a
human being. was efiicac!ous. DIR. NJ.
ii. Silver, the physician In charge. who
has said confidently the last three days
that the anthrax itself was under con-
troll. reserves final decision until tests
are completed on blood cultures removed
after treatment with the serum.
The others. House Physician ii. j..
Dwyer. Or. Robert =. Wadhams. visit.
ing physician at Bellevue, and George
r. OHanlon. superintendent Of the hos
pital. think that 1t combated the bacilli
Of the disease successfully and was
probably responsible for p%rolonging life.
but came too late.
One thing has been settled, thai once
the anthrax bacilli have spread in the
system the preparation that will save
life liz still TO be found. or, at least, II
1t has been found It's power is still to
be demonstrated.
Once the swelling from the infection
has spread" said Dr. Charles Norris.
director Of the pathological department
az Bellevue. who has had charge of the
blood tests. the chances are about gone.
The course Of Mr.. ~Stackpolc's case is
similar to that observed in cases else
where. Before the end the ravages of
the disease seem to lessen and the signs
are more hopeful. But the heart is
weak and in perhaps t~wenty-four hours.
possibly more. during which ,he patient
is continually weakening. 1t collapscs."
There were no dying statements from
the lawyer. whose courage in the face OF
an almost certain doom had been the ad-
miration OF all who came in contact
with him. About 9 80 o'clock he asked
for q glass OF water. and told his nurse
he felt he was growing weak. An hour
la;er he died. only the nurse was with
him..
His wife md son and daughter. who
had been living across the street. re-
turned to Riverhead yesterday after
noon. The funeral services will he held
tomorrow in the First Congregational
Church Of Riverhead, conducted by the
Rev. w. Il. Harmon ne pastor. who
has been almost constantly with the
sick man and his family during the
week.
T g fourth death from anthrax In this
region within the last three weeks be-
came known yesterday with the filing of
the death certificate of John l.. burns.
a retired contractor OF Madison, y. j..
who died Tuesday at his home. Burns
had a large boil last week. No physi-
clan was called in until Sunday and
ordinary treatment proved useless. No
serum was tried.
George +. Stackpole was born In Leb.
anon, Me. November 90. 1S43. He wa.
a graduate of the first class of the State
Normal School at Pennington. Me, and
OF Dartmouth. where he MAS "A college
mate OF Dr, Silver, H. physician dui ina
his last illness. In 1872 he went to Riv.
erhead as principal of the high school
some years later being admitted to the
bar and taking up the practice OF law
For nineteen years, until about ten years
ago. he WAS "A Justice Of the peace. Foi
many years he was president of Il
Board OF Education. He was a dlrecto,
Of the Suffolk COUNTY National Banl
and a trustee of the Riyerhead SavinG
Bank.
MIR, Stackpolc leaves his wife. a daugh.
ter, Syiena. and "A son, Philip w, who
il "A senior at Dartmouth.
ALBANY, y. Y. oct. l5.-The Statt
Health, Agricultural and Industrial de,
partments are watching for any case
OF anthrax that may develop in tan,
neries and leather manufactures tn,
Health Department In a statement giv,i
out tonight advised the people not I,
be alarmed over the recent death,
caused by the disease.