The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-12
HEALTH BOARD
PUTS WATCH
ON DANCERS
One of Marathon Hooters,
Who Dropped Out, Found
to Have Diphtheria.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM
Physicians Say Danger to
Spectators Is Slight;
Place Safeguards.

Participants and attendants of
marathon dance contest under way
at TomlinSon Hall were ordered I'M
der surveillance today by the city
health board, after it discovered that
a young dancer who dropped out a
week ago was suffering from diph-
iberia.
DR.. H. S. Leonard of the health
board declared there should be no
general alarm, since there was prac-
tically no danger of spectators hav-
ing been exposed to the disease and
little chance that any of the dancers
or trainers would develop it at this
late date.
Most of the dancers are at an
age which normally is immune from
diphtheria, anyway" said DR..
Leonard.
The dance started at 9 p. M, Oct.
4. 1t is being staged by Minneap-
oils promoters under auspices of Me-
mortal Post, No. 4, American Legion.
The promoters say they are splitting
the gross receipts with the Legion.
The dancers are contesting for a
81 900 first prize and $1,000 in minor
prizes.
Girl Goes to Hospital
The day after the dance started,
Miss Irene Hughey, 10, of 1l22 Maple
ST., collapsed. A doctor attached to
the dance sent her to city hospital.
Records there show that her illness
was diagnosed as diphtheria at the
time.
The case did not come to atten-
ton of the health board until late
Thursday, when Raymond Scott, at
whose home Miss Hughey had been
living, protested because his home
had been quarantined.
He declared Miss Hughey had not
been at his house for week before
the dance started and he could not
understand why he and his family
were bottled up and the marathon
permitted to continue.
DR.. Leonard, DR.. E E. Padgett,
and DR.. Walter Kelly of the health
board investigated the situation this
morning. They said they learned
that the rules keep the dancers
away from the public, but that the
trainers are free to come and go.
Board Takes Action
After long discussion of the stu
alton the board took these steps:
l. Directed DR.. Homer Warick of
the staff Of the marathon organi-
zation, with DR.. John Leach, city
contagious disease inspector, to ex-
anime and take throat cultures of
each of the twenty-four dancers re-
naming and all others housed in
Tomlinson Hall in connection with
the marathon. Most of the dancers
have trainers. The promoters have
an organization of about half a
dozen.
2. Segregation and lmmunization
of any persons found infected with
diphtheria.
3. Such surveillance as the in
Spector deems necessary to see that
there is no danger to the public.
4. Removal of the quarantine at
the Scott residence if a re-inspec-
ton warrants it.
The health board doctors said that
diphtheria usually breaks out from
seven to nine days after exposure.
If any other dancers were infected
it should be known in day or two,
the physicians pointed out.
No Cause for Alarm
The doctors said investigation de-
veloped nothing to warrant a quar-
antine at Tomlinson Hall and again
stressed the point that there Is no
occasion for alarm on the part of
those who go to see the dancers.
DR.. Kelly said he believed i'm
munization a more efficient means
of preventing the disease than quar-
antine.
Dr. Jesse Martin, chief resident
physician of city hospital, attended
the health board conference and
rported facts regarding the girl
dancers illness.
DR.. Martin also announced that
Miss jeanette WEIGH, 10, of 10 N.
Oriental ST., who Collapsed at the
dance Sunday night was released
fro mthe hospital Thursday. She
suffered merely from bad case of