INTENSE FOG

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1930, Page 6

INTENSE FOG

“ 69 IN BELGIUM. (United Press Association— By Blectrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) BRUSSEL'S, December 7. Three deaths aU Jemeppe last night brought the unofficial total to sixtynine and the official to sixty-three. The fog has now vanished. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ' LONDON, November 8. The Liege creeping death fog has lifted, but experts of all types on the spot are investigating possible explanations of one of the most mysterious , epidemics iii the history of disease. A party of professors from Brussels and Liege accompanied the Queen on tour of the stricken region. They are convinced the fog was not the sole cause of the deaths and are of the opinion the fog was impregnated with some toxic particles. They are endeavouring to trace the poison. On the contrary, Felix Berthyn states a similar fog caused deaths of some people and many cattle in 1911 in Meuse) Valley. Berthyn calls it fog asthma. The symptoms are difficult breathing, slackening heart movements and finally death. These are all symptoms of asphyxia. There was another outbreak in 1902 when the remedy was to convey animals and other sufferers to the hills. -Apart from the deaths in the present visitation, at least four, hundred 'are. still affected, whereof qne hundred are serious.

Other hypotheses are that a secret poison gas escaped from a German gas factory just over the frontier. It has been- suggested that the fumes have been held down Jby he recent cold and fog.

Responsible opinion however ’ refuses to accept the poison gas hypotheses. Unfortunately, instead of ordering a postmortem, officials have already issued permits for forty burials.

Belgium Home Affairs say one posmortem disclosed bronchial pneumonia and reiterate the opinion, despite the angry comments of local inhabitants. 1 Horses, pigs and cows affected are being; driven out -of the district and slaughtered.