South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-07
BY ANNA LOUISE STRONG


Near East
written exclusively for the United
Press
WARSAW. Poland-CBy Mail TO
the United Press) Not since the
great epidemics Of the middle ages
has there been anything 10 compare
with the epidemic OF typhus which
has devastated Russia and Eastern
Europe during the past four years
and which again increased the last
winter.
Figures. as accurate as II will ever
be possible to obtain, are now avail
able for he first time 10 the western
world, through the reports now be-
ing made at the joint sanitary con-
ference called in Warsaw by the
League Of Nations
Between 90 and 80 million cases
Of typhus have occurred in Russia
during the past four years-ab bout
one case for every four or five peo-
pie in the country. Between two and
a half and three million deaths
have taken place from this cause
alone, the actual population Of the
country has definitely decreased due
to IT,"
These are the statements made by
Professor Tarassevftch. in the report
which has attracted more attention
at the conference than any othe,
Or. Tarassevitch is we'll known
among European medical men as
the president Of the Scientific Medi-
cal Council Of Russia
The actually reported cases listed
by the health authorities during
these years were 100000. But for
a large part Of this time there were
no reports from the Ukraine or
from Siberia. where the eDldemis
was at IT'S height or from other dis
tricts where civil war was raging.
Any doctor I'm Russia can give
anecdotes showing the terrible su~in
put upon the medical profession dur
ing these years. 7 recall woman
physician in Samara who was put
. in charge of 500 patients. ali lying
on the floor with no bedding. no
change OF clothing no soap. ct
gave them one look" she said. and
4 I knew I would be down with the
disease IN two weeks There was
simply no chance TO escape iufec-
ton and 7 knew the eXhaus,lng Ia
Dor ahead OF me would leave me
without vitality 20 resist"
All the doctors in Russia faced
the same conditions But all the ef-
forts Of the doctors we're without
practical value in checking the emf
demiC. says Or Tarassev.tch due 20
the complete absence OF means for
combating disease. TyDhus ran its
course unchecked as did the great
plaques OF the middle ages until
all the population either had 81 o.
developed immunity 20 g. For. ir
spite OF modern medical knowledge
and great sacrifice 10y doctors there
were lacking the essentials Of SOAP
change Of clothing and the simplest
indictments or disinfectarts
During the first years Of the war.
typhus increased in sudden srr~ts
from the Turkish and GaNcian
fronts lpcated in a section Of coun-
try where the disease is endemic
With the breaking OF the military
and civil organization during 1917.
the disease began 20 be carried all
over Russia. bur its chief focus was
In Petrograd in the winter Of 1917.
From this point 81 spread IN
creasing fer two winters 20 the cll-
max in 1890 when there we're
3.175.399 cases actually reported
and probably four times that many
On actual fact By last winter the
soviet government had become more
firmly established the medical forces
were better organized. and the num-
Der sank 20 about one-fourth that
OF the previous winter. But with the
coming OF famine this past fall
nd the great migrat.1ns OF popu-
iation accompanying IL. large mum