[Dixielandjazz] Art Hickman, Banti's disease.

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Bob and Steve,
Sorry about the delay.
We went to see the film "State Of Play" this morning and stopped out  
for lunch.
Dr Fred Spencer, our DJMLer friend and lurker, makes specific  
reference to Art Hickman in his fine book 'Jazz and Death' (2000.  
University of Mississippi).
On page 121 he writes:
The suggestion that Art Hickman (1896-1930), the pioneer dance-band  
leader, had "symptoms not unlike those of advanced alcoholism" is  
misleading. [This was mentioned in an early Red Hot Jazz Archive  
entry, but now deleted.] His death certificate reveals that he died  
from "Shock & further loss blood from operation for Banti's disease  
with hemorrhages & splenomegaly–duration 5 years" and "Contributory  
hemorrhages." Banti's disease affects the spleen and liver, with  
anemia, abdominal fluid (ascites), and a tendency to bleed from the  
stomach and elsewhere in the body. Treatment in 1930 was to remove the  
spleen, often with a lethal outcome.
Which prompts a question.
Has anyone heard from Fred Spencer lately?
I was in contact with him off-list on a regular basis (we swapped jazz  
books) for many years but we lost email/snail mail contact late last  
year.
Very kind regards,
Bill.

PS: For those interested in Art Hickman's records, the very first ones  
from 1919-1921 have been reissued on two Archeophone CDs, 6003 & 6005.
Currently available from both Venerable Music and Worlds Records.
Although not shown on listmate Jazz Jerry Brown's site, he has access  
to Archeophone and can probably organise a copies.