Evening star., 1953-07-15
Polio Strikes
; More Nurses
Al Sanitariium
New Cases Bring
TotuI in Stuff at
Rockville to II

OCQI IN ST0TT at
Rockville to II
Three more nurses of the
Chestnut Lodge Sanitarium in
Rockville were reported today to
have been stricken by polio.
One case was said to be par
alytic, while the other two were
described as being slightly par
alytic."
The Montgomery County
Health Department said the stu
dent nurses were 10, 20 and 80
years of age and would probably
be taken to George Washington
University Hospital. The depart
ment said they were all doing
fine"
Previously, six student nurses,
two members of the nursing staff
and a pSychiatrist who practices
at the sanitarium have been
stricken with the disease. Two
of the student nurses have re-
covered, DR.. Dexter M. Bullard.
director of the sanitarium, re-
ported yesterday. Seven of these
cases are of the paralytic type.
To Study Outbreak.
Onset of the disease in the new
cases, the department said, had
occurred between July 8 and IL.
DR.. Edward Davens, chief OF
the bureau of preventive medl-
cine of the State Board Of
Health, announced in Baltimore
today that Drs. Howard A. Howe
and Philip Sartwell, two Johns
Hopinks University polio experts,
will arrive in Rockville on FRI
day to study the outbreak and
assist local doctors.
| The Montgomery County Coun-
Gil, sitting as the Board Of
Health. yesterday upheld Health
Officer w. l.. Ellicott's withhold
ing of information concerning
any outbreak of polio in pri-
vate institution.
The councils stand followed
a closed session with DR.. Eli
colt and DR.. Bullard.
DR.. Ellicott yesterday told the
council his policy was based on
rules set up by the State Health
Department and on ethical
standards designed to protect
the identity of polio victims.
Not State Policy.
DR.. Robert H. Riley. chairman
of the State Board of Health.
yesterday said it was not the
policy of the board to withhold
such information. He added,
however, the State department
hesitated to give out informa-
ton that might damage private
institutions doing a good job in
the community.
The chairman said he did
not know what reasons DR..
Ellicott had for withholding the
! information. He then directed
! DR.. Davens to release all in
formation of cases reported from
the Rockville Sanitarium's staff.
which Dr.. Ellicott had refused to
disclose.
Yesterdays session followed
! disclosure by CouncilWoman
Stella B. Werner that she had
been told last Thursday by the
State Health Department of the
outbreak at the sanitarium.
DR.. Ellicott, in reply to re-
porter's query, yesterday said he
would release information of any
further cases at the sanitarium.
He gave the answer after asking
DR.. Billiard if he approved the
information being made public.
Would Get Permission.
DR.. Ellicott said he would not
give the name of any other in
stitution if an outbreak should
occur there unless he had per-
mission of the operator Of the
institution.
Acting Council President j.
Louis Monarch said the council
would rely on Dr.. Ellicott's
judgment. He added, "the pol
icy seemed reasonable" and that
there was no attempt to con-
ceal any information which
should be general public knowl-
edge"
DR.. Ellicott said there was no
indication of high incidence Of
polio in the county this year.
Seventeen cases have now been
reported.
He suggested that as a pre-
caution, parents not permit
their children to tire too much
and not take them in areas Of
high polio occurrence.
The county health officer said
all precautionary recommended
tions of the State health board
we're being carried out at the
Chestnut Lodge and in the
county
Other Nurses Stricken.
At 3 pm. Monday, DR.. Bullard
disclosed six student nurses had
been stricken at the sanitarium.
The health department an hour
later reported a 43-year-old Be-
thesda man had been stricken.
Yesterday morning three other
cases were reported by the
county health epartme t.
Shortly before noon, DR.. Bull
lard's Office reported there was
no change in the 3 pm. report
of Monday.
At 12:45 pm. the State Health
Department said the 43-year Be-
thesda man was a psychiatrist
practicing at the sanitarium.
Later DR.. Ellicott refused to dis
close any new cases at the SAN
itarium. About 3:15 pm. DR..
Bullard released a statement
saying a member of the medical
ctoF ond tun 1oI1rSeS hod heen