 Tonight, the DuPont Company brings you the unnatural death starring Lee Bowman on the Cavalcade of America. Good evening. Let's hope no one ever puts a sign in your home by a slippery rug or carpet that reads so and so fell here and went to the hospital. A rug on a slippery floor is one of the most dangerous spots in any home. You can help make rugs and carpets in your home stay put and keep them from slipping with DuPont rug anchor. One of the DuPont Company's better things for better living through chemistry. Natural death starring Lee Bowman as Captain Billy Ashford on the Cavalcade of America. Good evening, sir. Listen to me. I still have to run an efficient American occupation of the island of Puerto Rico. General, and I expect my medical officers to back me up. Captain Ashford is just the man. Captain Ashford. You mentioned him before, Colonel. The epidemic won't wait. Still trying to locate him, General. Right. An epidemic sweeping the island and you are trying to... Colonel and native of Puerto Rico are convinced that the American occupation forces have made the epidemic disease worse. It's a loaded cannon right in our faces, sir. As soon as I locate Captain Ashford... Captain Ashford. I find it. Get Ashford here. Half dozen native runners. But sir, most of the runners are down sick with the epidemic. Well then stay on your wire. Call Ponce, Yoko, all cavalry posts. I want a company of troopers to scout every inch of Puerto Rico until they find Captain Ashford. Yes, sir. Come tonight. It was almost a company. He said he wanted to talk to me. He decided I don't have horns that... Have a little temper. Well, maybe now I can propose to him. You know, the formal Spanish tradition. Why don't we go see him right now? No. This moment? Sure. Come on. Let's go in to see him. Yes. That's the Ashford. He parked here in my house. Oh, it's very kind of you. But please, no. Victory does not include my daughter Maria. Not the island of Puerto Rico. But my daughter Maria is not one of the fruits of victory. Oh, Papa, how can you say so? Maria. I mentioned to run away with you. Imagination? I want to marry your daughter. You know this? See, Papa, I love Bailey. Maria, do you realize? The doctor is in the army. The war is over. How long do you think he stays in Puerto Rico? Well, sir, I think I'll be stationed here for quite a long while. Can you be sure? Well, no, of course not. Orders come in unexpectedly sometime. These orders, these unexpected orders, could they not come soon and you will leave? Papa, if you will only leave. Maria, an army is for fighting. Now the war is over. And how much do you think Captain Ashford cares for staying on this island, for the welfare of the people? My daughter cares, sir. Well, half your population is down with tropical diseases. Ah, yes. They're all because of diseases. The benefits of an occupation army. Your people had a high mortality rate long before we ever came. Have you seen the epidemic? Have you seen the funerals in the streets? Of course I've seen them. But surely you can't blame us. La muerte natural, Dr. Ashford. The natural death. My people say the disease is worse every day. Ah, that's true, but sir, your people who work on the farms in the fields have been dying of that disease for years. It is worse now. But if you check the actual number of deaths, I'm sure you'll... I heard. I heard. Who is that? Open the door, Maria. Sí, Papa. Dr. Macintaz, come in. Hello, Scotty. Well, there's a group of cavalry out there looking for you. For me? Why? I don't know if they want you at headquarters right away. Pronto. Lady, what does this mean? I don't know myself, Maria. What's the trouble, Scotty? Where's the difference? Come on, let's get going. It's urgent. All right, come on, Scotty. Better see what the Colonel wants. We've got the cold in the island for you. Well, Colonel, I had a three-day leave. Went down to see my girl. It was a big party. I know. I know. Viva Americanos. Just remember this, Captain. There's a price for victory. The General's telling the roof down about this epidemic. Lots of Puerto Ricans are dying. It's our job to stop it. Well, here I am. What do you want me to start? That's what bothers me. I don't know. Nobody knows. All we have is the name. La Muerte Natural, the natural death. The Spanish have a longer handle. La Muerte Natural de la Anemia, something. De la Anemia? That's the first time I've heard the whole name. Well, a devil with a name. We've got to find out what causes it. Well, maybe I'd better do some research to follow up the Anemia idea, huh? No, no, no. That's been tried already. The Puerto Rican doctors got rid of that theory years ago. Well, let's see. The epidemic might be a blood cell problem. Might be a germ, an exceptionally virulent bug. Maybe a parasite. Might be a dozen things. I'll settle for one, Captain. But find me the right one. Three days are on it all up. Shall I set the windows open? Oh, please. Two pipettes, mics and a choke. Hello, Colonel. Hello, Captain. Sergeant. Checking our list of research equipment. Put it away, pilot. The natural death was an emergency, sure. But now we've got a bigger one. Can you hear it? That wind outside. Ever see a hurricane? No, sir. Well, you will now. Warning just came over the wire. San Ciriaco. A hurricane. The elements against man. War, Ashford. Cuts, bruises, broken bones. That means hospital. But the research worked. All these laboratories applied. Change the list. Make it a tense operating table. First aid material. All the rest. Get an emergency field. Hospital set up in country. Now put the microscope back, Captain. No, no, no. We'll still take it with us. A microscope for first aid? Well, I'd like to get back to the research later. Research won't stop that big wind down there. That'll blow over, Colonel. But the epidemic won't. All right, all right. Take it. But get that hospital up quick. Before the epidemic blows up. Oh, here, sir. It's a duck. Americano, doctor. Now wait a minute. Good man. Not a hurricane casually. Just sick. Sir, I carry on her little all the way here. Please use. I'm sorry. Too many people hurt. They come first. Mr. Senor, this doctor. Thank you, doctor. Sergeant, have many more sick people. I don't mean people hurt in the hurricane. I mean just sick. Have any more than trying to get in to see us? Doesn't, sir. They've been taking advantage of the epidemic to get to see a real, live doctor. Not only Petty and... Well, from now on, let them all in. As soon as this blows over, I want to see them. Every one of them. Two daily bills with Papa. Yes, sir. How do you do, sir? Let me help you down, Maria. Yes, sir. Yes, Sergeant. Excuse me, sir, but you wanted to see the next post-mortem. Oh, yes, yes. Ask Dr. Macintosh to start the autopsy. I'll be along in a few minutes. Yes, sir. The hurricane has killed many. Not so many, but it did blow in a lot of sick people. La Muerte natural. That's what's killing them. The epidemic is worse, baby? I'm afraid so. Modern hospitals. Modern science. Modern mordes? Not a modern hospital. No, an emergency hospital. What, modern science? Yes. But mordes from the epidemic? This I do not understand. No doctor can just wave a magic wand over an epidemic. Of course, that I do understand. No, sir, I don't think you do. If you come with me for a minute, let me show you the size of the problem. Well, if you think I would... It's what you think that concerns me. I want to introduce you to your people's trouble, face to face. So many people. Doctor... A momento is Angelita. Her father, Pepe. What do you want to see? Angelita was my first epidemic patient. Yes, doctor. I am very weak. She feels very bad, doctor. Oh, how pale she looks. Most distressing the treasure. Now, you see, sir? The hurricane victims, the broken bones, they heal fine and walk out. There's these people here, ward three, not a scratch, just sick. They run downhill. And clinically, I'm helpless till I find the answer. Papa, I must stay here. They need help. Maria, what kind of... Papa, you talk about the people, the sickness. But now you see it with your own eyes. They need help. Bailey needs help. But the young girl in the hospital is where we need help most. Look, sir, all your people, especially the poor... The shivers. The very foot ones. Yes. Sooner or later, most of them contract a disease. Until now, nothing has been done about it. It's been a mystery. Still is. I see. Papa, we must help the Americans. Who are helping us? Very well. Stay my child and help fight this unnatural death. Thank you, Lee Bowman, as Dr. Bailey Ashford, in the unnatural death on the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. As orders to find the cause of a mysterious disease which is raging on the island of Puerto Rico at the close of the Spanish American War, he is in his makeshift laboratory at the emergency hospital. Maria. Yes, Bailey? Let me have those glass microscope slides. All right. Blood smears all look alike. I don't understand it. Here's the last blood count, Bailey. White blood cells, 15,000. Red blood cells. I know. I know the figures by heart. If I only knew where to start this research, Maria, if there was only a single clue to help me get started. Oh, don't worry so hard, Bailey. Many of our own doctors try to learn what causes a disease and how to failure. Uh, failure is one luxury you can't afford in the Army, Maria. Hello, hello. Emergency hospital headquarters, anybody home? Oh, we're over here, Dr. McIntosh. How are you today? Feeling fit, feeling fit, Maria. And how is a good Dr. Ashford? Hello, Scotty. Well, what's the matter with him? Oh, I wish you'd talked to him, Scotty. He's so tired. He's up every night working. He won't rest for a minute. Well, see here to mind, you'd better slow up a bit. Or you'll be needing a doctor yourself. Slow up. How can I slow up with a colonel screaming at me? The general wants results, results. Oh, take it easy, Ashford. The general's no doctor. He doesn't know a research problem. The only results I can show him are six feet deep. Row up one row of them. Bailey's doing the best he can, Scotty. The best anyone can do. No, no, no. You don't have to tell me. But they see the epidemic a little different down at headquarters. All I hear there is that Captain Ashford found what causes the disease as he got it cured, et cetera, et cetera. Well, I'm no miracle man. Research takes time. I'm up against a stone wall, Scotty. Muerte Natoral, Muerte Natoral, whatever that is. Bailey, did it ever occur to you that maybe the disease is not really this mysterious thing? How about the other epidemic diseases? I'll tell you, Floyd. Yellow fever. No, no, no. I'd have to consider those. None of them fit the clinical picture. The differential blood count looks crazy. This is something new. If only we had a scientifically accurate name. Wait a minute. There's more to the name. La Muerte Natoral de la Nemia. A Nemia? Well, have you considered that, Bailey? It's too simple. Too easy, Scotty. Well, it's worth it. Try them on. Yeah, yeah, maybe if I change the diet, a richer... No, no, that's science by guesswork. But, Bailey, why don't you try? All right, I will. I'm not short of anything, so we've got to try everything. Come on, let's get to work. Landing general headquarters by a medical officer in charge. Permission is respectfully requested. Brunder sign to use U.S. Army food supplies for hospital patients. In connection with the research on La Muerte Natoral, this new diet treatment will be used for health. Sergeant, sir? All the natural death patients in Ward 3 go on a new diet, a richer diet. No more of the other... Kill me, plenty of meat and fresh vegetables. Starting tonight. The general thought I ought to come see what success your Nemia diet treatment was having. Make war drums with you. Well, Colonel... Here's what we know, Colonel. It is very kind of you, Senator, to stay on here and help. I am most glad to, Colonel. Here's the first patient. Buenos dias, senora. Buenos dias. Colonel, I'd like to explain something before we go. How do you feel today, senora? Are you getting better here? Como si me hubiera partido en raio. She says she feels as if lightning hit her. And how about this next lady here? The doctor asked for Angelita to feel very bad today. Feel terrible inside. Who is this man? Pepe, the woman's father. She still looks emaciated, Asford. Just like the first patient. In spite of your diet. Colonel, they all look poorly. I've been trying to explain, sir. The plain truth is that the diet is not helping. Your diagnosis of anemia? Wrong, sir. Wrong? The anemia is not the cause of the death. It's only a symptom. And I told the general I was counting on you. I'm sorry, sir. If only you could give me more time. How much time? Weeks? Months? I can't say, sir. The solution might take years. Well, don't forget, Asford. This epidemic is spreading like fire. And for the sake of a lot of these barefoot people and for the sake of the service, you've got to crack this thing and do it quick. Put the microscope away, Bailey. Well, then you're right, sir. I'll just finish up. Scotty, let's see that last batch of specimens. Where'd you get them? Where'd you get them? 4-3, Angelita. Bailey's favorite patient. Let's see the specimen under the microscope. Don't drop the slide. It's still wet. Hey, wait a minute. This is strange. Move the light closer, Maria. Yes, yes. Thanks. What did you see? Scotty, you're sure the specimen came from Angelita? War 3? Of course. What's up? Here, let me have a look down that lane. See it? You see it? Who'd have it? Please, let me look through. There. There, just look at it, Maria. All of fine threads. Scotty, get me Manson's book on tropical diseases quick. Here. Here is mine right here. Easy, it's my only copy. Look. Look how the middle threads move. It's alive. Here. Here we are. Look at this drawing. The details. The same thing. What does the medical book say? The intestinal parasite. Hookworm. Let me take another look. That's that. It matches our specimen exactly. That explains the prolonged anemia. There's our diagnosis, Scotty. Right, man. Now we've got to find a cure. We've got to find some drug. There's something that will attack the hookworm inside the body. There it is. There it is. Four hundred and ninety pages, lots of words. And not much time. Start reading. I've just finished this book on quantum derivatives, Scotty. Any luck? Negative. We've got to keep searching. It's all pharmacopoeia. What does it say? Listen. Final. Two grains taken by mouth purges the patient of the parasite. Oh, look. The next few words. Danger. Large doses. Poison. This medicine is good, but it has some danger. You still want to try? Follow what I say. Remember, only one pill at a time. More is dangerous. How do you feel today? Thank you, doctor. Every day, doctor. That's good. Keep taking a pill. I'll come see you every morning and night. I'll see you at home for five days. She's been helping us, working like a trooper too. Bailey found the cost, papa. So cool. Maria, what they were to you? It's much less objectionable than your people dying. You are a doctor. Fine. But such words are not pronounced in polite society. Polite society doesn't die of this unnatural death. But the Hibaros do because of accident and ignorance. You see, the soil is infected with certain tiny parasites and the people walk barefoot. The worms attack their skin and the blood and your cure. Final. I'm giving it to one patient only, Angelita. The test. I have to go slow at this stage because the drug is poisonous when taken in drugs. Poisonous? Do you realize the risk you run, doctor? All medical research is a calculated risk, sir. But this patient is Angelita if she dies then what? Poison. If Angelita dies, you will frighten everybody on the island. The people have little education. They will save the American doctor experiment with the help. It was Angelita's only hope, don't you see? The only hope right now for thousands of your people. But poison! It's not poison in small doses. I watched the dosage carefully. Angelita and her father agree freely. Freely? You, the military authority, the occupation army, you say freely? You know how many minutes it's there. I have a friend outside Bailey who wants to see you right away. Scotty, if this is one of your jokes on... No, no. Come in. Come in. Look, Dr. Ashford. Angelita. Angelita. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. 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There is a brown that seems to change from gold to deep rich bronze, depending upon how the light strikes it. Greens, grays, and a blue, ten new colors in all are now available in metallic chrome for refinishing automobiles. We wish we could send you a color card of these different, exciting new colors, but this isn't practical. You'll find them at your authorized DuPont refinisher shop. The address of the DuPont refinisher nearest you may be found in your telephone directory in most cities. But if you can't find it there, right to the radio section, DuPont, Wilmington, Delaware, and we'll send it to you. DuCo metallic chrome is the newest addition to the error-lengthening list of DuPont better things for better living through chemistry. Star Star, Lee Bowman. Thank you. I've enjoyed appearing on Cavalcade tonight, and it gives me pleasure as well to say a word on the 172nd birthday of the United States Marines. Men between the ages of 17 and 32 are eligible to join a new group of Marines, the Citizen Marines of the Marine Corps Reserve. If you want to join, and it'll be a great experience, you can get all the dope at your local Marine recruiting office. Look into it. Thanks, and good night. Along with Newt Rockney of Notre Dame, Fielding Yoast of Michigan is a legend and an inspiration in American football. Next week, Cavalcade brings you the story of this great football coach, Hurry Up Yoast, starring Thomas Mitchell in the title role, and Bill Stern as commentator. Be with us then next Monday night for this triple threat combination, Hurry Up Yoast starring Thomas Mitchell and Bill Stern on the DuPont Cavalcade of America. The tag for the DuPont Cavalcade was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Don Bryant. Tonight's play was based on the book Soldier in Science by Dr. Bailey K. Ashford and was adapted for radio by Bernard Victor Dreyer. Lee Bowman appeared through the courtesy of Columbia Pictures, producers of It Had to Be You starring Ginger Rogers and Cornell Wiles. This is Bill Hamilton inviting you to listen next week to Hurry Up Yoast, starring Thomas Mitchell and Bill Stern on the Cavalcade of America, at the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. NBC, the national broadcasting company.