Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-08
D. c. LABORATORY
ATTENDANT DIES
OF PARROT FEVER
Other Members of Staff
Carry on Dangerous
Research Work.

Parrot fever claimed its first victim
in Washington today.
Harry B. Anderson, attendant at the
Hygienic Laboratory of the Public
Health Service, died this morning at
the Naval Hospital after a 14-day fight
against the dreaded and mysterious
tropical disease which he contracted
while handling sick parrots in the in
terest Of science.
Meanwhile, members. of the Hygienic
Laboratory medical staff, fully realizing
the danger which they have no means
to guard themselves against. have taken
over heroically the dead mans work,
Following the best traditions of medical
science In the slow, pcrilouS work of
combating the mysterious malady which
already has claimed IA victims in the
United States since its first appearance
at Annapolis month ago.
Relapse Precedes Death.
Anderson has been at the point of
death for the past week. Yesterday
afternoon, when his condition was first
announced, his life was dispaired Of
but he seemed to rally after the admin
lstration OF oxygen, only to sink into
another relapse which ended in death
this morning.
He was IS years old and his home
was at Sixty-third street and Eastern
avenue northeast. One of the humber
workers in the ranks of medical SCI
ence, his task was to care for the birds
and animals used for experimental pur-
poses. 1t was comparable to handling
violent ana mysterious explosives. An
oerson leaves a wife and one son.
Since the first pSittacosis cases were
reported, 1t was explained today, the
ayg1enic laboratory, of which DIR.
george w. Mccoy is director, has been
securing dead and infected birds in an
enort to locate the organism responsible
Tor the dtseaSe-the first step necessary
Tor certain diagnosis and the possible
development of specific remedy of
some sort. This has involved exposing
nealthy birds to the infection. but thus
far no positive results have been oh
tanned and medical science still is in the
dark as to the actual cause of the
malady.
Proves Dangerous Job.
Handling parrots sick with psittacosis
1t was pointed out, just now seems
ABOUT as dangerous job as a man can
EOANAAVOCA 4OI III WdT OF peace. THE
danger is all around, but nobody knows
from just what direction it is coming
so as to guard against it. One of the
medical staff is now doing the work
formerly intrusted to Anderson
The laboratory attendant, it was
pointed out, was given every protection
science could devise, and his successor
| fully realizes that he Is taking a chance
which nothing he can do will minimize
The organism, whatever it is, Public
Health Service officials point out. evi
IDENTIFY lives in the droppings of the
birds and in the feathers. About All
That can be done is to keep the cases
scrupulously clean and the floors and
the birds themselves sprayed with dis
mtectants to keep down the dust.
But parrots are recalcitrant to han
ole. usually fluttering their wings when
they are picked up and releasing into
the atmosphere whatever psittacosis or
| ganiSms are loose.
Apparently the psittacosis organism
either can be breathed into the lungs
or received through the mouth or ewes
and all that can be done is to minimize
the chances -
Some diseases. 1t was pointed out,
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