Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17
Fatal Action of Deadly Fumes
Often Delayed Five or Six
Days, Health Commissioner
SayS-ChemiSts Agree.
CLEVELAND CLINICS
STAFF TO "CARRY ON"
3S of City's Wealthiest Men Back
Plan to Rebuild Structure as
Loss Is Put at $SOo,ooo-Escap-
ing Steam Blamed for Disaster as
Plumber Tells of Conditions.

I. BY the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May IL
/ Fear that 80 per cent of the sur
viving victims of the Cleveland
! Clinic disaster will die in not more
| than few days from effects of
the poison gas they inhaled, was
expressed today by Harry L. Rock
wood, city health commissioner,
and concurred in by number of
doctors and chemists.
The exact number of persons
who inhaled the deadly fumes
that came from the burning X-ray
films and other chemicals is un-
known, but doctors estimated
there were at least 100 besides
those who already have died. If
Rockwood's fears prove true, so
more deaths will be added to the
present total of 125.
Morgue Workers Suffer.
"Nitro oxide and carbon mo-
noxide were the two gaSSes that
were created in the explosion of
the x-ray films at the clinic"
lockwood said. Both we're found
in high percentages in the blood
of victims examined by Coroner
PearSe-as high as 80 per cent
with the saturation so exception
ally strong and high that some of
the coroner's morgue assistants
were rendered unconscious.
'The inSidious part about the
two gases is that their fatal ac-
ton is often delayed four to five
hours and sometimes five or six
days. Even then if they don't kill,
the lungs of victims are so weak
ened they fall victim to pneu-
nonia."
An official inquest in the Cleveland
Clinic disaster which has claimed
toll of 125 lives, was begun today by
County Coroner A. j. Pearse.
simultaneously those of the clinics
staff of doctors who survived the dis
aSter opened temporary headquarters
in another building and prepared to
carry on" the mi-philanthropic work
that was ended SO abruptly Wednesday
by fire, explosions and deadly poison
gas.
Backing the group of doctors of the
clinic were 38 of Cleveland'S most
wealthy and prominent citizens with al
most unlimited resources at their COM
mand. Samuel E. Mather, nationally
known for his philanthropy, headed the
committee.
DIR. Grille Grief Stricken.
Struck by property damage esti-
mated at $4,000 the clinic will be
rebuilt The principal loss was in medi-
cal records. -,
within a month to six weeks this
structure, famous from coast to coast,
as the headquarters of many of Ameri-
cas- greatest doctors and surgeons. VIII
be reopened, the committee announced
today.
founders of the institution and its dl-
rector, will be at the head OF the new
clinic.
I'VE must go on" he said.
Cirief-stricken and overburdened with
the tragedy which had come upon him,
renown through goiter research and
other medical discoveries, laid plans
with the committee for re-establishment
of the institution.
DIR. Lower Bellies Fears.
One of the several doctors who dis
agreed with fears for ultimate death OF
many of the remaining survivors was
DR.. william E. Lower. Il believe that
all persons who inhaled any of the
deadly gas fumes and are living now
have passed the critical stage. All OIL
the injured now remaining in hospitals
should recover" DR.. Lower said.
Ability of the poison gas that was
released in the clinic disaster to exert
a delayed reaction OH its victims, how
ever, has been established here re-
peatedly.
More than "a hours after the acci-
dent, f1remen and police, who at first
had thought themselves unaffected
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