Evening Sun, Wednesday September 3, 1919

PARALYSIS FATAL TO TWO CHILDREN; 3 SERIOUSLY SICK

Annie Wagner, 8 Years Old, and James Rohrbaugh, 14 Years Old, Both of Manheim Township, Die From Disease

ONE CASE IN HANOVER

An outbreak of five cases of infantile paralysis in Hanover and the townships of Manheim and North Codorus today claimed two children in Manheim Township, while three others are seriously sick. Health Officer F. Y. Stambaugh and County Medical Inspector Dr. J. S. Miller, York, were investigating the source of the disease all morning but have not as yet determined the cause of the outbreak.
The children who are dead are: Annie Wagner, eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wagner, Manheim Township, and James Rohrbaugh, 14 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rohrbaugh, Manheim Township.
The three children who are sick, each of whom is reported to be in a serious condition, are as follows: Robert Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Miller, McAllister Street, Hanover. Margie Wagner, 16 years old, sister of Annie Wagner, who died this morning. Alton Carl, eight-year-old, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Carl, North Codorus Township.
Robert Miller became sick last Friday and Dr. C. E. Bortner, York Street, was called in. He at once diagnosed the case as that of infantile paralysis and his diagnosis was confirmed this morning by Dr. Miller. On last Saturday the paralysis developed and the boy is now unable to move his arms or legs. There are two other children of school age in the family but neither of these has contracted the disease.
The Carl boy was the first to contract the disease becoming sick early last week. Dr. L. H. Sterner, York Street, was summoned and at once detected symptoms of the dread paralysis, which soon fully developed. He at once notified Dr. Miller and the Carl farm was gone over in hopes of finding the source but no clues could be found. The boy is still in a serious condition although he at times seems somewhat improved. Dr. Sterner this afternoon again visited the Carl home. He states that the boy is unable to move his head or his arms because of the paralysis.
The disease next showed up at the Wagner home and Dr. Sterner was again called in on the case. Margie, the 16-year-old daughter, who has been sick about a week and although reported in a serious condition, is expected to recover. Her sister, Annie, was sick only several days and died at 2 o'clock this morning.
Dr. Miller and Health Officer Stambaugh this morning while investigating the cause of the disease stopped at the Rohrbaugh home in Manheim Township and while there James, the 14-year-old son, who had been sick since last Friday, passed away. There are five other children in this family. The Wagner and Rohrbaugh farms are located near each other.