Phillip Gowan
RIP
I heard on the news this morning that there have only been 20 cases of death in the United States during the last 100 years from virulent anthrax.
One of those was a Titanic survivor. John Kennedy was a young Irishman from Limerick who survived the Titanic sinking only to meet with another dismal fate within a few years.
(Taken from the AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, Augusta, Georgia, June 11, 1918)
HANCOCK SOLDIER SUCCUMBS TO MALIGNANT CASE OF ANTHRAX
Private John Kennedy of Machine Gun Company 21, Has Cheek Infected by Use of Shaving Brush and Hasty Death Results
After an illness of four days, Private John Kennedy, age 25 years, of machine gun Company No. 21, a draftee coming to Camp Hancock from his home, Brooklyn, N.Y., May 5th, died Sunday afternoon at the Base Hospital from malignant anthrax.
The death of Kennedy from this cause is the first case of this nature to develop in any cantonment of the United States and the only case of a like nature ever known in this city or vicinity, according to physicians.
Anthrax is the most infectious disease known to medical science. From the standpoint of infection and immunity the disease is of particular interest. It is the first disease of which the bacterial etiology was proved, that is the first case where disease by germ was proved beyond question.
It is peculiarly applied to cattle and sheep and prevails in certain European countries, especially Russia--and Australia. That it is peculiar to animals was possibly the reason for its early discovery in Kennedy's case, the lieutenant-physician pronouncing the case anthrax coming from northern New York, where the disease is not such a rarity, and where tanneries are many.
The examining physician recognizing symptoms of anthrax had Kennedy immediately taken to the Base Hospital where a spear was taken from the pus and sent to the University Hospital for analysis. The answer came back positive. The disease started on the right cheek of the deceased and is believed to have been communicated by a shaving brush. It is known that bacillus anthrax has lived from 10 to 12 years on dry hair.
The remains of Private Kennedy were forwarded from the R. E. Elliott Funeral Home Monday afternoon, the casket being hermetically sealed and sent to the home of Michael Kennedy, the only living relative, at No. 7, Fourth Place, Brooklyn, N.Y.
The remains were accompanied by Private Kelly of the same unit of which Kennedy was a member.
One of those was a Titanic survivor. John Kennedy was a young Irishman from Limerick who survived the Titanic sinking only to meet with another dismal fate within a few years.
(Taken from the AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, Augusta, Georgia, June 11, 1918)
HANCOCK SOLDIER SUCCUMBS TO MALIGNANT CASE OF ANTHRAX
Private John Kennedy of Machine Gun Company 21, Has Cheek Infected by Use of Shaving Brush and Hasty Death Results
After an illness of four days, Private John Kennedy, age 25 years, of machine gun Company No. 21, a draftee coming to Camp Hancock from his home, Brooklyn, N.Y., May 5th, died Sunday afternoon at the Base Hospital from malignant anthrax.
The death of Kennedy from this cause is the first case of this nature to develop in any cantonment of the United States and the only case of a like nature ever known in this city or vicinity, according to physicians.
Anthrax is the most infectious disease known to medical science. From the standpoint of infection and immunity the disease is of particular interest. It is the first disease of which the bacterial etiology was proved, that is the first case where disease by germ was proved beyond question.
It is peculiarly applied to cattle and sheep and prevails in certain European countries, especially Russia--and Australia. That it is peculiar to animals was possibly the reason for its early discovery in Kennedy's case, the lieutenant-physician pronouncing the case anthrax coming from northern New York, where the disease is not such a rarity, and where tanneries are many.
The examining physician recognizing symptoms of anthrax had Kennedy immediately taken to the Base Hospital where a spear was taken from the pus and sent to the University Hospital for analysis. The answer came back positive. The disease started on the right cheek of the deceased and is believed to have been communicated by a shaving brush. It is known that bacillus anthrax has lived from 10 to 12 years on dry hair.
The remains of Private Kennedy were forwarded from the R. E. Elliott Funeral Home Monday afternoon, the casket being hermetically sealed and sent to the home of Michael Kennedy, the only living relative, at No. 7, Fourth Place, Brooklyn, N.Y.
The remains were accompanied by Private Kelly of the same unit of which Kennedy was a member.
