The Washington times., 1932-07-22
HEALTH CHIEF
STARTSPR0BE
Of SOURCE
Hospital Facilities Taxed As
Dairy Firm ExCursionists
Crowd Wards and Rooms
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stomachs were being analyZed in
an effort to determine whether
the food was spoiled or contami-
mated during preparation. He
said:
"We will sift this case to
the very bottom. We have
some of the food and stomach
specimens of victims and we
hope to learn whether the food
was spoiled before preparation
or whether it may have been
contaminated by h andling
through some other means
after it was prepared.
81 understand that the food
was well iced, but even under
those conditions 1t could have
been contaminated. have
asked my assistants to obtain a
complete report from the place
where the food was prepared.
We shall also endeavor to learn
where the food was purchased,
as it included hot dogs, potato
salad, and egg salad. In the
pGAS4S DObW w SGSASSN AA~SS ~~S@A
source of much illness"
All but 25 of the victims had
recovered sufficiently to be dis
charged from hospitals. AT
Georgetown Hospital, there re-
mained IL; Casualty, 8; Prov1'
dence, 8, and Emergency, 2.
These were expected to be sent
home today.
Some of the food had been de-
livered to camp of bonus army
veterans at Thirteenth and D
Streets S. W., and 20 of the
men there became i'll and had to
be removed to Emergency Hos
pital.
The picnic party left Washing.
ton about 10 o'clock yesterday on
the steamer Charles Manchester.
Dinner was eaten shortly after
noon and some of the picnic party
became i'll almost Immediately.
At first this was attributed to
the hot weather, but when the
boat returned for them at 4:45
O'Clock, many more had been
stricken Ill.
Unconscious on Deck
On the trip back to Washing.
ton almost indeScribable scenes
were enacted. The poison victims
Sprawled on the decks, and many
Of them were unconscious. The
rails of the boat were lined.
ToV0f Tnil1ioV1a oNVra-
mander of the boat, ordered full
steam ahead. AS the ship
reached Alexandria he shouted to
bystanders on the dock to have
medical aid meet the boat at
Washington.
The first alarm brought the
fire rescue ambulance, those from
Emergency, Casualty and Freed
mems hospitals and three from
Naval Hospital.
Shortly after arrival Of the
ambulances. the steamer was seen
plying up the river. AS the boat
came closer, passengers could be
seen prone on her decks, while
others, their faces drawn and
wan, lined the rails.
It was apparent the ambulances
and physicians on the scene
would be unable to take care of
the hundreds i'll. Another alarm
was sent in. and police patrol
wagons and emergency cars
rushed to the scene.
Then the steamer began to dis
gorge its human cargo. Stretchers
were pressed into service and the
ambulanceS sped off to hospitals.
Taxicabs COmmandeered
When the ambulances and emer.
gency cars were filled, police COM
mandeered taxicabs and private
machines.
Soon Emergency and Casualty
hospitals were filled to overflow
ing. The whine of sirens brought
throngs to the wharf and thou.
sands Of relatives and friends of
the victims were milling at the
pier. Many became hySterical.
At Emergency Hospital, which
bore the brunt, more than 1000
persons milled outside while the
sufferers were brought in.
Families were separated in the
excitement.
Hospital Facilities Taxed
Physicians who treated the
patients said food poisoning was
undoubtedly the cause, together
with overindulgence in iced water,
exercise, and the hot weather.
Emergency Hospital treated
about $50. Facilities there were
taxed to such an extent that as
soon as patients were treated,
they were led to the alley in the
rear to make room for others.
OF the $50 treated at Emergency
Hospital. SO were admitted; of
10 at Georgetown. 20 admitted;
of 100 at Casualty. 80 admitted;
three admitted at Providence, and
nine at Gallinger Hospital. Six
persons were treated at Garfield
Hospital but were later sent home.
Four years ago almost TO the
day scenes somewhat similar were
enacted at the Seventh Street
wharf. The steamer Macalcster
returned from a picnic to Mar
shall Hall with 400 stricken with
ptomaine poisoning. OF that
number. 81 were treated at hos
pitalS.
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