13 
Gwinn (1902) presented a paper on “spotted fever” before the Montana State 
Medical Society, at Anaconda, May, 1902. He discussed the various possible modes 
of infection, gave very brief observations on two autopsies, an excellent account of 
symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. This paper was published in the 
Missoulian, a daily paper issued in Missoula, but I have been unable to find it in any 
medical journal. 
Wilson and Chowning (1902a, 1902b) investigated this disease for the Montana State 
board of health. Doctor Wilson reached Missoula on May 16 and Doctor Chowning 
on May 26. On July 1 they dated a preliminary report which was printed on July 
19. Wilson and Chowning reached conclusions which, if correct, are of far-reaching 
importance. They give a summary of the results obtained upon 6 autopsies. The 
most important points in the paper are those dealing with the etiology, transmission, 
and origin of the disease. Briefly stated, these points are as follows: No bacteria 
of etiologic significance were obtained in any case, but in stained coverslip prepara- 
tions of (1902) cases 2 to 6 they found certain ovoidal bodies within the red-blood 
cells; the nature of these bodies was not clear until they examined the fresh blood 
of case 7: “Intracellular parasites, showing ameboid movements were found. In 
several of these observations extracellular forms were also found. * * * Proba- 
bly not more than 1 red cell in 500 in the circulating blood is ordinarily infected.” 
They describe 3 phases of the parasite, which they claim to have transmitted experi- 
mentally to rabbits. 
The final point they make is that the common gray spermophile ( Citellns colum- 
bianus) possibly forms the regular host for the parasite they found in man. 
The views regarding the tick transmission and the origin of the disease in the 
spermophile are ad^ anced as “ hypotheses.” 
Cobb (1902, pp. 1868-1870) visited the Bitter Root Valley in June, 1902, where 
he found Wilson and Chowning already at work. His report contains a brief account 
of the Wilson and Chowning observations. Cobb was in the valley too short a time 
to thoroughly confirm or refute the Wilson and Chowning hypotheses, but from 
what he saw it is clear that he was favorably impressed by their views. 
On December 31, 1902, Wilson and Chowning (1903a) finished their more com- 
plete report to the Montana State board of health. 
The paper contains a discussion of the history of the disease, a list of 114 cases they 
compiled (chiefly from correspondence with local physicians), location, season, table 
of distribution of cases by months, previous condition of patient, sex and age of 
patient, types of the disease, clinical histories and autopsy notes of the cases they 
observed in 1902, a case of “local infection,” an excellent general summary of symp- 
toms, morbid anatomy and histology, etiology, “hsematozoa of spotted fever,” inoc- 
ulation experiments, mode of infection, the gopher as possibly the normal host of 
the hematozoon, and suggestions relative to future investigations. It is important 
to note here that at the conclusion of their article they say: 
“While the tick-gopher hypothesis is a very alluring one, it must not be forgotten 
that as yet but few positive facts have been obtained for its establishment. Aside 
from the collection of clinical evidence attempts must be made to transfer haematozoa 
from infected gophers by direct blood inoculations and through tick bites to various 
uninfected animals, as the rabbit. A comparison of the results of such inoculations, 
if successful, with similar inoculations from human cases (see No. 3) should give 
valuable data as to the identity or dissimilarity of the protozoa from gophers and 
those from man. In view of the high mortality of ‘spotted fever,’ it will probably 
be impossible to get any man to submit to a direct blood inoculation, or tick bite, 
■Trom patients as has been done recently with yellow fever. But it seems probable 
that all that is necessary may be done b}^ careful inoculation along the lines here 
indicated.” 
During the season of 1903, at the request of the Montana State board of health. 
