The citizen., 1920-10-21
SAYS ANTHRAX
IS NOT FATAL
Importance Of Early Treatment
Is Emphasized by New
York Specialist.
SERUM CURES 100 Per CENT
Inspection OF Hides and Furs Under
Government Regulation 10 Urged
by poctor-cure Takes
About Ten Days.

About Ten Days.
New York.-Dr. Douglas Summers,
director OF the pathological labora-
tories OF Bellevue and allied hospitals
said that the case OF Frederick n.
Post, polo player. who was discharged
as cured Of anthrax from Bellevue.
was most important In that II may EN-
phasize that anthrax Is not a "fatal'
disease.
"Mr. Posts case was diagnosed In
time" Doctor Symmers said. THAT
is the most important thing. Get an
anthrax case early enough and a cure
Is practically certain. THIS is the ffth
case 10 be cured In Bellevue with the
serum prepared by the United States
department OF animal industry.
II would like TO make II as emphat-
Ic as possible In this connection that
use In newspapers OF the phrase dead
ly anthrax has a bad effect not only
on the public generally but on any pa
tient that may he under treatment.
You see sufferer from anthrax Is
fully conscious throughout the disease.
He Is just as clear mentally as any one
up 20 perhaps the last hour. II II
chances TO be case that was not
taken In time and cannot be cured.
That Is a peculiarity OF anthrax.
Bad for Morale.
snow, In Mr.. Posts case. he was
feeling In excellent spirits and he
wanted the newspapers. There was
a.
them TO him. when he got them he
read about deadly anthrax and that Il
wouldn't he known for ten days wheth-
er he would live or not. and IL wasn't
particularly good medicine for his
morale Mr.. Post. II happened. was a
man of 1ne courage. high intelligence
and rare gameness. He was n splen-
did patient. so reading about the
mythical deadliness Of anthrax In the
newspaper accounts didn't have as bad
an effect on him as II might.
"But there are other patients suf.
fering from anthrax here and there
about the country. and the chances
are there will be more In Bellevue.
The public should be educated as TO
what the disease really N.
anthrax. az the outset. Is mani
Tested by a Characteristic lesion at the
point Of inoculation. This usually is
on the face. as In Mr. Posts case. II
looks like an ordinary pimple. red and
itching Within n day or 80 the pim-
Pile breaks down into a large. biackish
ulcer surrounded by an enormous but
painless swelling.
THAT one pimple and swelling IL
all the visible sign there may be OF
the disease. But. n the swelling Is on
the cheek. as In Mr.. Posts case. II
may be enormous. closing the eve.
"Now. n the disease IN taken right
there, a cure is practically certain.
No one with any such symptoms
should walt an instant. Any one who
has seen the Characteristic lesion Of
anthrax could not fail TO identify II In
stantly across a room.
Serum 10 Effective.
AT Bellevue the percentage OF cures
with the government serum II 100 per
cent. or the 20 cases treated In tho
last three years seven have died. But
the last Ave, which are the only ones
In which the serum has been used.
have been cured
THE disease is caused by a large,
spore-bearing bacillus. very resistant
10 all forms OF dlslnfection. II yields
most readily 10 steam under pressure.
The probability Is that Mr.. Post was
Infected by a shaving brush. Proper
disinfection OF the brush would have
ruined H."
"Dislnfection Of hides and furs for
anthrax should he matter Of gov
ernment regulation" said DIR. Charles
Norris. chief medical examiner. who
had listened TO the discussion. "It IL
very nearly impossible TO disinfect
without destroying the object disin-
fected. know of only one process
and II II long one. About the only
thing ] can see for any one TO do at
the present time Is TO take a chance
and II he contracts anthrax get proper
treatment with the serum Immediately.
II Is easy TO cure II II II Is diagnosed
In time"
There aren't enough cases 10 alarm
any one" Doctor Symmers said. "But
II crops up here and there all over
the country, and the newspapers call
II deadly and every one gets wor-
ried Mr. Post came 10 the hospital
on the fourth day OF the disease. aud
he was In time. The earlier the bet
ter, however. Where II gets danger
Gus Is when the Infection gets into the
blood. The cure takes about ten
days"
Doctor Swimmers said that the an
thrnx bacillus first was discovered In
1875. II really ls cultivated In
laboratory. he added.
All the World Loves Q Lover.
Mn..l..lIln H. l..