Evening star., 1933-11-13
WATCH DIAGNOSES,
SURGEONS WARNED
Reported Deaths After Opera.
tions on AmoebiC Dysen-
terry Victims Cited.

A warning to surgeons all over the
United States to make doubly sure OF
their diagnosis of appendicitis or nl-
cerative colitis before operating during
the next few weeks was urged on the
Public Health Service yesterday by DR..
H. N. Bundesen, health officer of Chi
cago, following several reports of deaths
following such operations on persons
suffering from amoebic dysentery, the
strange malady which has escaped from
Chicago all over the country.
At the same time confirmation of the
diagnosis of amoebic dysentery, gen.
orally considered tropical disease, was
obtained from Dr. r. r. Spencer, vet
eran Government epidemic fighter, who
went to Chicago yesterday The or
ganism responsible for this disease was
identified by DR.. Spencer The Public
Health Service swung into action yester-
Gay with requests to public health off,
GERS all over the country to report any
cases which may have broken out in
their territories. in an effort to locate
any new focal points which may have
been established.
Symptoms Similar.
The symptoms, it is pointed out, often
closely simulate those of appendicitis,
but the condition of the boay is such
that an operation is extremely danger
Gus. Texas Guinan, the actress. who
died in Vancouver this week following
a hasty operation for Lucrative colitis.
is reported to have been a victim OF
such mistake. The victim of amoebic
0ysentery, 1t is pointed out, is very
likely to die anyway.
up TO this morning 123 cases, all
supposedly originating in Chicago, have
peen located. Among them Is have
died. Seventy-nine cases with fatali-
ties have been found in Chicago itself,
and "A cases with 8 deaths elsewhere,
1t is feared that the check-up will show
many more. Carriers of the disease
have undoubtedly been in the District
OF Columbia, although no. cases have
been reported here Approximately
$4,000 people, mostly Century of Prog
ress visitors, are believed to have been
exposed and to have carried the deadly
germ with them all over the country.
surgeons are especially warned to be
careful in making an appendicitis dag
nosS Tor persons who recently have
SOllc 41Um CIllCaSO.
Unusual So Far North.
Apparently, according to the reports
to the Public Health Service. the
nialady flared up suddenly in two large
Chicago hotels, filed with guests. 1t
was probably carried from one to the
other. Ordinarily it is almost unknown
so far North, especially in the Winter.
although there have long been isolated
cases In the Southern States.
1t acted so quickly and so violently
that at first the diagnosis was ques-
toned, since the symptoms seemed
more Like those which might be caused
by poisoned liquor. This alternative
has been effectively disproved, however.
A dramatic feature of the epidemic has
been the death of six directors of a ma
tional business organization, in Chicago
to formulate an N. r. A. code. Some
Of them came to Washington before
they we're stricken.
The amoebic dvsentery organism, so
far as is known, is spread only through
the medium of food and drink. 1t
would not be spread directly from per-
son to person. but new focus would be
established by infected persons engaged
T. preparing food.