Cleveland County herald., 1920-12-16
t....oe;,,,,STER RULES
 IN ASIA MlNOR
American Woman Physician Tells of 0Sman Agah, Known as
 "Tyrant of kerasoom."
ACKNOWLEDGES ND MASTER
Threatens to Kill Anyone Who Aids Suffering Armenians in Any Way Dr. Norton Contracts Trachoma
 While Treating Children.

New York.-If science eventually succeeds In checking the raVages ol trachoma, the scOurge of ancient Egypt. and since the beginning of his tory one of the most bafiling of human ailments, the achievement will be due sn no small measure to Dr. Blanche Norton, an American woman physiclah who herself contracted the disease while treating Greek and Armenian or. phans in the Near East relief orphan age In Kerasoom, a little village ei' the Asia Minor coast of the Black sea
 Though suffering severely from a wirulent attack of the malady, Df. NOT son came to COnStantinople, and dur. ing her treatment-One of the most painful known to physicians-she con tinued her efforts in behalf of the tra' cisomous thousands of the Levant. As a result, hospital has been opened fn the Sultan's capital capable of ear ing for about 400 Greek and Armenian orphans at one time.
 In recognition of her service at Ker ,asoom, where her patients were large sy orphans of Greek parentage, the Greek government conferred on her the War Cross of King George-the fa1ss woman to be so honored.
 2S Per Cent of Children Afflicted.
 "Trachoma is more prevalent and a greater menace than we realize," Dr. Norton declared on returning to New York to complete her treatment. 'sfn the Armenia and Greek orphan ages in ConstantinOple an extensive survey revealed more than 25 per cent of the children suffering from the dis ease. In addition, there are thou sands of adults and Turkish children sn the city who become infected"
 The high degree of contagion of tra- eiiOnla, according to Dr. Norton, is one of it's worst aspects. She caught ii when one of the children she was treating was seized with violent fit of sneezing and shook a tiny molecn ( -ssf the discharge from his eyes ia.s Saers
 Maybe it is a good thing that
 
 sl begin to think that sometimes il fs well for Il doctor to suffer from the disease he or she treats to any ex tent. Until I had to undergo the treat ment l never realized the pain that Snhicted on those tiny little waifs il the damp schoolhouse cellar in Kera soGm where they were segregated"
 "Tyrant of kerasoom"
 It was while treating these orphans that Dr. Norton met OSman Agah, "the tyrant of kernsoom," an erstwhle fish. srrnan who fought in the World war returned with wooden leg, and be, came a Hero in the eyes of his towns people
 'He is the most fearful creature ever saw" she said. "The native Christians that have so far escaped his wrath live in abject terror of him ant of the band of mountain robbers tha1 he has surrounded himself with.
 "Few Armenians are left in the town. Most of them died of starva tion In the streets, with no one to helT them. For OSman had promised tC have killed immediately anyone wh, might dare to feed or aid them in m, way. He has placed oil and gasoline all about the outskirts of the towr and had threatened to set it afire ant drag all the Creek population to tho mountains if allied warShips or allied troops attempt to move against him He is holding the leading Greeks oi the city as hostages. No Christian is allowed to leave the city. Afustapha Renal himself could not move him. for Osman acknowledges no one 10 be his Master. He is the most absolute t;Tant that, believe, has existed sipce the days of imperial Rome.
 .rhe hrigands that this creature has gathered about him are at once the most fearful anG the most wonderful group of men I have ever Seen."
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