FATAL EPIDEMIC

Southland Times, Issue 21263, 9 December 1930, Page 5

FATAL EPIDEMIC

BELGIAN MYSTERY POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS ADVANCED SYMPTOMS OF ASPHYXIA OJn itcd Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 1.5 a.m.) London, December 8. A message from Liege states that tho creeping death fog has lifted, but experts of all types are on the spot investigating possible explanations of one of the most mysterious epidemics in the history of disease. A party of professors from Brussels and Liege accompanied the Queen on a tour of the stricken region. They are convinced that fog was not the sole cause of the deaths, and express the opinion that the fog was impregnated with some toxic particles and are endeavouring to trace the poison. On the contrary M. Felix Berthyn states that a similar fog caused the deaths of some people and many cattle in 1911 in tho Meuse Valley. M. Berthyn calls it fog asthma. The smptoms are difficult breathing, slackening heart. movements, and finally death. These are all the symptoms of asphyxia. Another outbreak occurred in 1902 when the remedy was to convey animals and other sufferers to tho hills. In the present visitation at least 400 arc still affected, of whom 100 are in a serious condition. Other hypotheses are that secret poisonous gas escaped from a German gas factory just over the frontier. It is suggested that the fumes had been held down by the recent cold fog. Responsible opinion, however, refuses to accept the poisonous gas hypothesis. Unfortunately instead of ordering post moderns the officials have already issued permits for 40 burials. The Belgian Home Office, says that one post mortem disclosed bronchial pneumonia. Angry comments have been made by local inhabitants. Horses, pigs and cows affected arc being driven out of the district and slaughtered.