East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-08
Stories From the War Zone


Omitted Press STAFF Correspondent
Copyright 1915 by the United Press.
Copyrighted IN Great Brittany
NISH, Serbia, Aug 4.-(By Mail
From 100000 cases Of typhus to
coo and from maximum mortality
Of 10 per cent to one Of 2O-all with
in the space Of three months is the
record OF the American Red Cross
and Rockefeller Institute Sanitary
mission sent here to save the Serbian
ration from the epidemic that was
threatening its actual existence.
BY Sept. / Serbia will be entirely
free Of the plague.
The full story Of the most remark
able humanitarian task ever UNDER
taken by the United States was to-
day told for the first time In an in
terview granted TO the United Press
by Dr. Richard p. Strong, professor
of tropical diseases at Harvard Uni
versity, and head Of the American
mission. The interview took place in
the little third class railway car,
which fitted out with beds in one
part and shower bath In the other
and with a fiat car attached behind
for carrying his automobile and an
other car in front for the members
of his immediate staff, has been prac-
tically the only home DR.. Strong has
I known in Serbia. Almost every night
Of the three months campaign has
been spent by him aboard the car
hurrying from one end Of Serbia to
the other in the fight against the
deadly plague.
"The typhus epidemic in Serbia,
stated DR.. Strong, "began last jan
uary in the vicinity of Vallievo, fol-
lowing the Austrian invasion Of the
month before, and spread with such
rapidity that 1t became the greatest
epidemic of that disease recorded in
modern medical annals, The epidem-
ic reached It's height in the middle
of April just as the American mis-
sion arrived. New cases then num-
bered $500 daily, but it must be re-
membered that these were the figures
/ only Of the victims who came to the
military hospitals Serbia had not
been able to even keep statistics OF
the victims among the civil popuia-
ton and so the above figures give
as a matter Of fact, no accurate idea
4 of the extent of the epidemic.
"In fact. few figures Of any kind
are to be had, but presumably the to-
tai deaths from the epidemic have
been about 100, 600 and the number
OF victims down with the disease at
the time we took charge was very
likely of equal magnitude.
"As such an epidemic Of typhus
never before had occurred in the
history of modern medicine, I freely
confess that it was with no little
; concern we first arrived here. A
/ quick survey of the situation con-
vinced me. however. that with effec'
! tive organization the plague could be
wiped out and in four months
am still confident that when the foul
months are entirely past. the last o.
the 500 cases still remaining vii
have disappeared.
Following the preliminary organ
ization of a national sanitary board
something Serbia had not had, and
the division of the country into san
itary districts. we at once went aft
er the practical end of the work
namely the chasing down and exter'
mination of the louise from whose
! bite alone the disease is transmitted
LAS the quickest means of reach
ing the greatest number of the strick-
en- populatin in the shortest possible
time. we had two refrigerator cars
! placed at our disposal. In one OF
these was installed an apparatus fol
the disinfecting of clothing by heavy
, steam pressure and its immediate
drying afterwards. In the second car
was fitted the necessary appliances
for a disinfecting bath of the victims
with the arrival of the car at
each town. a tent was at once pitch
ed by the side of the railroad in
which the population could undress
They entered the first car where they
left their clothing for disinfection and
passed Immediately into the second
car for the disinfection of their bod
les Only ten minutes were required
for the joint operation at the end OF
which time each person was given
back his clothing dried and ready to
put on, with the absolute assurance