FOG DISASTER.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 9 December 1930, Page 11

FOG DISASTER.

MYSTERY OF EPIDEMIC UNSOLVED. EARLIER VISITATIONS RECALLED. (UNITED TIIESS ASSOCIATION"—ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 9th, 1.4 a.m.) LONDON, December 8. A Liege message states that tlie creeping death fog has lifted, and 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 of the Belgians on a tour of the stricken region. They wore convinced that tho fog was not tho sole cause of tho deaths, and expressed the opinion that the fog was impregnated with some toxic particles, and they are endeavouring to trace the poison. On the contrary, Professor I'elix Berthyn states that a similar fog caused the deaths of some people ami many cattle in 1911 in the Mtuse Valley. Professor Berthyn calls it "fog asthma." The symptoms are difficult breathing, a slackening of the heart movements, and finally death These are all the symptoms of asphyxia. There was another outbreak in 1902, when the remedy was to convey ani mals and other sufferers to the hills. Apart from the deaths in the present visitation, at least 400 persons are still affected, one hundred being serious cases. Other hypotheses are that a secret poison gas escaped from the German gas factory just over the frontier. It is suggested that tlu; fumes have been held down by the recent cold fog. Responsible opinion, however, refuses to accept the poison gas hypothesis. Unfortunately, instead of ordering post-mortenv, the officials have already issued pern, its for forty burials. The Belgian Home Office officials say that one post-mortem disclosed bronchial pneumonia, and reiterate their opinions despite angry comments of local inhabitants. liorses, pigs, and cows which have been affected are being driven out of the district and slaughtered. GREAT BRITAIN CLEAR. CONGESTION OF SHIPPING CLEARED. (Received December Sth, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 7. The fog has lilted throughout Great Britain, peimitting the clearance of fog-bound .shipping in tho Thames estuary The liners affected include the lonic, for New Zealand, and the Oivieto, which only reached Tilbury to-day instead of Thursday, and the Panpura, from Bombay, and the City of Calcutta and Andelusia were nlso bertlK'd at Tilbury. The Ormonde left to-day, instead of yesterday. OFFICIAL EXPLANATION NOT BELIEVED. FURTHER DEATHS OCCUR. BRUSSELS, December 7. Dwellers in tho Meuso Valley scout the official explanation and are convinced that the fog was charged with noxious gas of unascertained origin. Three deaths in Jemeppe last night biought the unofficial total to 69, and the official total to 03. The fog has now vanished.