The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-03
NO EVIDENCE
OF POISONING
ISDISCOVERED
Five Dickinson Nuns Died Of
Natural Causes, Says
C0rGner's Jury
DOCTOR MAKES REPORT
University Medic Calls Dis.
ease 'Encephalitis" or
''Sleeping Sickness"
DOCTOR MAKES REPORT

Dickinson, N. H.. March 3.--LR--
Natural causes were responsible for
the death recently Of five nuns who
were nurses at st. Joscph's hospital
here.
This verdict was returned late
Yesterday by II coroner's jury which
heard report by DR.. II. NJ. Banks,
acting dean of the medical depart
ment Of the University of North Da-
kota. who investigated.
DIR. Banks declared that the deaths
were due to encephalitis, an infGc-
tious disease, which in one of its
forms is known as sleeping sick
ness" and in another as "brain
fever"
The five nuns became i'll February
l3. 1t was ut first thought that
fumes from n wood stain had caused
their deaths. Those who died were
sisters Ambrosina. Anaceleta, Phide-
lias, Theocara and Secundia.
The report presented by DR.. Banks
was lengthy. After lying detailed
account of the conditions found in
his examination he states his con-
clusiOns as follows:
THE picture presented pathology
cally was that Of an inflammatory in
volvement of the brain membrane
and upper region Of the cord, associ-
ated with LESSONS in the viscera of a
rather profuse tubular nephritis. The
remainder Of the findings were prac-
ticaly negative with the exception
Of hypostatic congestion in the
bases Of both lungs.
Two Possibilities
This would suggest two possibili-
ties:
~. Encephalitis, ideology unknown
at this time
"2. A toxic condition which might
be produced involving the brain and
kidneys by the absorption Of some
unknown process.
THE latter possibility seems rather
remote for in toxicology there is no
known substance which can be alb
sorbed into the system which will
give an inflammatory reaction in the
brain substance and at the same time
show the overwhelming renal involve
ment. The peculiarity of the massive
renal involvement without apparent
renal symptoms before death pre-
cludes almost entirely the probal il
ity Of toxin or poison absorption
while the LESSONS in the brain point
rather positively towards the exist
ence Of an cncephalitic condition due
to some unknown infective agency.
Banks Belief
II am inclined to believe that we
are dealing withan encephalitis Of
an infective type. The lesion in the
kidney Is the only obstacle in an
overwhelming report Of evidence that
would absolutely preclude the possi-
bility Of any other condition, but with
the overwhelming toxemia in the
brain it would not be difficult to cor
relate the renal picture with that Of
an infectious disease"
DISEASE is MORE COMMON
THAN is GENERALLY SUPPOSED
Belief that encephalitis, the disease
responsible for the death at Dickin-
son Of five nuns, nurses in a hos
pital there, causes more deaths than
is generally known, was expressed
here today by DR.. H. NJ. Banks, act
ing dean Of the North Dakota Uni
versity medical department, who con-
Quoted postmortem on the body
Of one of the victims.
1t is poss BILE that the disease
occurs more frequently than is COM
monly supposed but is sometimes
mistaken for influenza or other
last two years, he said, he has per-
! formed post-mortems on several peo-
pie who showed traces of it.
Since the Dickinson case developed,
DR.. Banks said, he has had many
letters from persons in all parts of
the country inQuiring about it. Be-
cause of the unusual nature Of the
case he will send data concerning it
to the medical Journals.
OverwOrk Induces Disease
Long hours of hard work some
times induces the disease, DR.. Banks
said, and expressed hope that one Of
| the guinea pigs whom he inOculated
during his tests at Grand Forks will
"come down" with the disease. He
| expressed the belief that he might in
duce it in a guinea pig by placing
the animal on a treadmill and forcing
it to physical exertion over a period
! Of time
Slides containing LESSONS found in
the brain of the nun on whom he
| performed a post-mortem have been
sent to the University of Minnesota
to permit scientists there to check
up on his findings. he said.
! No Other Cause Found
| The most exhaustive chemical and
bacterial tests failed to disclose any
| other cause of death, he said.
| The bacteria which may cause en-
cephalitis has never been isolated to
the satisfaction of the medical fra
ternity, he said, although one bacter-
iologist claims to have done SO.
| Commenting on the clinical aspects
of the case, DR.. Banks said that the
nuns, spurred on by interest in the
patients at the hospital. worked long.
hard hours and that this may have
weakened them SO as to make in
ro-ds of the DIS ,ase easier
LETTER 20 YEARS LATE