Evening star., 1925-01-31

might reach Nome before the dog
teams now en- route from Nenana.
Although the need for it would not
be materially lessened by previous
arrival of the small supply of serum
being carried by the dog sledges.
This supply OF 100000 units, according
to medical authorities, would scarcely
suffice for curative treatment OF 40
serious eases of diphtheria. and would
leave nothing for preventive use. If
used for preventive work alone,
scarcely 500 OF the 1000 Inhabitants
of Nome could be immunized and then
only for a period of three weeks.
Sent to President.
In addition to the appeal to the
Navy Department by Delegate Suth-
erland, the proposal was sent to Prs
ident Coolidge and to Secretary of the
Navy Curtis ID. Wilbur In the follow
ing telegram:
Acting upon urgent pleas from
Nome, and from Nome citizens now
in New York, the North American
Newspaper Alliance hereby offers TO
furnish bacteriologist, supplies and
equipment at any point on the Paci-
fic coast upon 4S hours notice from
the Government. We appeal for your
assistance IN obtaining Government
transportation in speediest possible
manner for these additional means
of preventing a widespread epidemic
We especially request consideration of
the feasibility OF the dispatch of a
cruiser carrying airplane and crew
from the Pacific Coast to the open
waters just south OF Nunivak Island,
900 miles south of Nome. from which
the airplsne could transport the
relief expedition which we propose
to furnish.
'Lomen Brothers, leading business
men OF Nome. wired us today the
following results of survey made
yesterday by DR.. Curtis Welch, the
only physician in Nome: There are
many more sore throat cases which
without tests must be considered
diphtheria. Our danger lies not only
in the lack of serum, but in lack of
facilities for positive diagnosis In
non typical and mild cases. We are
hindered by not having laboratory
facilities.
Tells of Conditions.
Carl Lomen. president of the Lo-
men Trading Corporation OF Nome,
now in New York, this evening made
the following statement to the alli-
ance:
Il implore the Government to act
Immediately on the suggestion of the
alliance and not permit this epidem mic
to ravage our community of thou
sand inhabitants as the influenza cpl
demic of 1918 unfortunately did when
hundreds died
Even airplsne pick up of the small
amount of serum now en- route by dog
sledse will by no means save thu sit
uation. Everything humanely possible
should be done. l am making this ap-
peal, not only in behalf of my thir-
teen relatives in Nome, but in behalf
of the 200 children there, who are, of
course, especially susceptible to the
disease which the United States Pub
lie Health Service Investigate indi-
Gates is on the virulent type. Accord
ing to an official report to the North
American Newspaper Alliance by the
American Medical Association. the
chances of death from diphtheria
without antitoxin treatment, are S to
10 times greater than with anti
toxin treatment. Even though the
dog sleds should arrive within 10
days, which would be remarkably
quick trip, considering the possibility
OF Alaskan blizzards, there would
still be need in Nome for large ad-
ditional quantity of serum and ID
oratory equipment
May we have immediate reply so
be lost"
Feasible Says Amundsen.
Nunivak Island is about $500 miles
from san Francisco by direct line: the
sailing radius OF a cruiser Is about
$500 miles Capt. Roald Amundsen,
the Arctic explorer, who is now in
New York making plans for his flight
to the North Pole next Summer, said
last night that in his opinion the pro-
posal to reach Nome by warship and
airplane was entirely feasible.
II have no record data as to the
prevailing ice conditions in that re-
gion," he said, but from what L know
of the western coast of Alaska at this
| time OF the year, / am convinced that
a cruiser or destroyer could get with
| in flying range OF Nome"
Delegate Sutherland and Carl Lo-
men agreed that the cruiser air
| plane expedition via Nunivak was a
| possibility.
, tCopyright, in United States and Canada
by North American Newspaper Aliance.)