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The Thibodaux Sentinel
Thibodaux, Lafourche County, Louisiana
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Mertherol Jorgenson, a Danish immigrant employed at the University of Illinois dairy, contracted tuberculosis from infected cattle around 1905. After years of illness and partial disability, the Illinois legislature appropriated $8,000 for his care, allowing him to fulfill his dream of becoming a university student.
Merged-components note: Title, image, and body text form a single coherent story about a man maimed in state service; image overlaps spatially with body text.
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CHAMPAIGN, ILL.—Out of his misfortune good fortune has at last come to Mertherol Jorgenson, formerly employed at the dairy in the agricultural department of Illinois university. Because he contracted a tubercular affection while working for the state, the state legislature has appropriated $8,000 for his care.
There is every probability that the disease will be completely eradicated, and, although the man will be partly disabled for life, he will be cared for in comfort, while he realizes his dearest ambition—to be a student in the state university.
In 1903, when scarcely full grown, Jorgenson came to the United States from his native Denmark. He came to Illinois and finally got a job on the state farm here because of his knowledge of dairying methods.
At that time, university professors were experimenting upon the danger of transmission of tuberculosis from cattle to human beings. Tests were being made and cows were inoculated with the deadly germs. The Dane took a great interest in these experiments, but he developed a horror of tuberculosis.
One day five years ago he cut a wart off his right hand. Before the scratch had healed he was giving a treatment to a calf. A short while later the hand became inflamed. The disease spread up into the arm and shoulder and along the right side.
The surgeons at the university gave him the best possible treatment. In cutting away diseased portions they were compelled to remove lymphatic glands, and his right side began to dwindle.
For years he has been an invalid, constantly expecting death. Then the progress of the malady was checked. With this prospect came hope and Jorgenson began to indulge again in his dream of becoming one of the students at the university.
He consulted attorneys and they advised him to make a request for $10,000 from the Illinois court of claims. Unable to do anything for him, the court advised him to take the matter up with the legislature. He did so and a law awarding him $8,000 was enacted.
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Location
Champaign, Illinois
Event Date
1903; Five Years Ago
Story Details
Danish immigrant Mertherol Jorgenson contracts tuberculosis while working at the University of Illinois dairy farm during experiments on cattle transmission. After severe illness and surgery leaving him partially disabled, he petitions the state and receives $8,000 appropriation for care, enabling him to become a university student.