Attack of The Blues – a Case for Medical Detectives
When a policeman became suspicious and took a closer look, to his amazement he saw that the man’s nose, lips, ears and fingers were bright blue. The patient was rushed to Beekman Downtown Hospital; by the time the ambulance arrived, the blueness had spread over all of his body.
Attack of the Blues – A Case for Medical Detectives
By Mr Ghaz, December 6, 2009
Attack of the Blues – A Case for Medical Detectives
Aged vagrants living in the stress have long been a common sight in many cities. Accordingly, commuters in New York City paid little attention to an old man slumped against a wall one morning in late September 1944.
When a policeman became suspicious and took a closer look, to his amazement he saw that the man’s nose, lips, ears and fingers were bright blue. The patient was rushed to Beekman Downtown Hospital; by the time the ambulance arrived, the blueness had spread over all of his body.
The doctor who examined the vagrant noted that he was in a severe state of shock and suffering from diarrhea. The doctor concluded that the patient’s blue color was due to an insufficient supply of oxygen in the blood, probably the result of carbon monoxide poisoning from an automobile engine or a gas pipe.
During the next nine hours, 10 more sufferers were brought to the hospital with the same peculiar symptoms. Following heart massage, stomach pumping, and oxygen, most recovered; the last to arrive was blue all over and could not be saved.
All victims were elderly down-and-outers and had fallen ill in different locations around the city. Finally it was established that all had eaten breakfast at the same run-down cafeteria, the Eclipse.
Selective Poison?
Meanwhile, Dr. Morris Greenberg and Dr. Ottavio Pellitteri of the health department had become increasingly dubious that carbon monoxide poisoning was the explanation, since the men had suffered no dizziness or headaches. And if there had been a gas leak at the cafeteria, which had served more than a hundred breakfasts that morning, the city hospitals should have been filled with other victims of the mysterious illness.
Liked it
clay hurtubise | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Great story! Well told and good choice of pictures.
Thanks,
Clay
mkd1788 | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
great piece pf information…
mkd1788 | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
great piece of information…good work
cardy | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
A really good read fab story, great post as always from you!
Christine Ramsay | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
A really interesting story. Very well told.
Christine
abhishek40914 | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
very interesting
Starpisces | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
wow, very scary… very interesting article again Mr Ghaz!
martie | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
excellent medical mystery!
Debra. | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Very good interesting story, MrGhaz!
Mark Gordon Brown | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Sort of like that gum in Willi Wonka.
diamondpoet | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Of course great article, very detailed and informative, the picture were wonderful, thanks for sharing.
Phill Senters | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
This is great story Mr G. I always liked medical mysteries/
Faith Hodge | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Wow that was a brilliant sudy! Very interesting article here. I really like it! Very well researched!
CA Johnson | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
This is very good. I enjoyed reading.
Sherry Wallace | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
This would make an interesting show for TV. The story kept my interest all of the way through. You are really good at writing interesting stories and picking interesting topics, mrghaz.
Shirley Shuler | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
A very interesting article, well done.
valli | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Interesting read.
revivor | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
very inyeresting with a good twist (or should I say, shake) at the end
Alex1 | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
awesome
STEVE666 | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Interestingly bad case of the blues—well solved.
hollynoel001 | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
very interesting piece of medical history
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susan | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Interesting story, thank you.
Idazalee | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
very interesting story and well-researched. well done Mr Ghaz!
Mansor | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Great one. I liked this story so much..very well written too. Thanks Mr Ghaz!
thestickman | Feb 9, 2010 | Reply
Greasy-spoon dining will get ya every time! :-b
June | Feb 24, 2010 | Reply
Very interesting and informative. I imagine this could happen Anywhere!
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