The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-04-10
| Medical Authority on Meningitis...Its
Treatment and Symptoms.

The st. Louis Globe publishes letter from
DR.. J. P. Moore, an eminent physician of that
city, giving description of that terrible dis
ease, cerebro-spinal meningitis, which has
proven so fatal in many localities of our
State within the last few months. Owing to
its clearness in statement and valpable hints
concerning the disease, we transfer the letter
of DR., Moore to our columns: -
"About the causes of this disease little or
nothing is known. But this happily is not
true in regard to its location and symptoms. 1t
is to be regretted that there is such diversity of
opinion in regard to it's cure. Ny own expert
ence satisfies me that, as between the varying
schools of homeopathic practice, the strict OBJ
servance of the Hahnemannic rule is the only
successful, and q very successfufcourse. Each
case of this disease being distinctly individual,
presenting forms and shades as various as the
human face, form or disposition, each one re-
ouires different remedies, and for that reason
it is impracticable here to lay down a rule.
"The first epidemic visitation of this disease
occurred in 1906, when it gradually spread
through New England, Canada, New York
and Pennsylvania from 1907 to 1872. 1t was
again epidemic in number of the States be-
tween 1840 and 1850, and again in 1852 and
1858.
"But in 1862 and 1863, during the war, it
was more widely prevalent. Since this 1t has
never altogether disanueared from the country.
In New York and = klyn, at the beginning
of 1872 considerable number of fatal cases
was reported; but it is as an epidemic that it
has of late years attracted the special attention
of physicians These epidemic visitations are
occasionally confined within very narrow geo.
graphical limits; while at other times, as was
the case in France between 1887 and 184O,
they spread successively over extensive regions.
Their occurrence would appear to be altogether
independent of any morbihc agency referable
to peeuliarities of climate, season or locality.
According to Mr.. Rollet, who described the
disease as it occurred at Nancy, it presents it.
self under two forms in the one there is no
sign of lesion of the nervous centres them
selves; no affection of sensation or motion,
though there are all the symptoms of infam-
nation of the membranes; at first rigors, then
maaise, dinning in the ears, vertigo, violent
pain in the head and along the vertebral col
umn, agitation, restlessness slight delirium
and sometimes moderate fever. In the second
form there is affection of the intellectual fac
ulties, also of the functions of sensation and
motion, with more or less complete abolition OF
the senses In this latter form the appearances
upon dissection were vascularity of cerebal
membrane. The cerebrum was slightly pune
tated, but not seftened. Beneath the spinal
membrane there was purulent matter, the same
as beneath the cerebral. The substance of the
spinal cord appeared healthy.
''The LESSONS here described exactly CORES
pond with those described by physicians who
studied the disease Us itprevailed at Versailles,
Avignon and Strasburg. According to DR..
0f Ia dIcQQcn
it occurred in Ireland during the year 1S46,
the serous membrane covering the brain and
spinal marrow was invariably found to be the
seat of extensive Inflammation.
'The first symptoms are very formidable, and
the attack is very sudden. In large number
of cases the patient is in ordinary health and
spirits up to the very moment of the seizure,
experiencing no premonitory symptoms to
warn him of danger, the disease all at once de-
claring itself Very generally, however, the
attack is preceded by more or less pain in the
head. especially in the forehead, temples or
occiput. The pain is usually constant, but
sometimes remittent, or even intermittent
Pain is sometimes experienced in the back of
the neck and along the course of the spine,
with sense of soreness in the limbs and joints.
In some cases the attack is preceded by giddi-
ness, with or without dimness of vision. Oc-
casionally the attack begins with an ague suc-
ceeded by slightly increased heat of the sur
face, and pain, extending from between the
shoulders to the occiput, with stiffness OF the
posterior cervical muscles. In other cases the
patient may exhibit pallor of countenance,
GOODNESS of the extremities, low moaning or
muttering delirium, quickly succeeded by rest
lessness flushing of the face, frequent pulse, a
wild expression of the eyes, and hot, dry skin.
t. tbo ho N
by assitude and uneasiness, considerable pros
tration. and dull, heavy pain in the head,
with vertigo; eyes languid and half-closed,
articulation laborious and indistinct. Occasion
ally the patient is suddenly attacked with deep
coma, or with more or less stupor, extreme de
bilty, giddiness, dimness of sight or double
vision. Or the attack may commence with Sc
we're pain in the abdomen, Immediately sue
ceeded by nausea and perhaps vomiting.
"In violent attacks of this kind the extremi-
ties become cold and of blush color, and the
pulse reduced TO mere thread.
"Whateyer may be the initiatory symptoms
they are replaced, sooner or later, by state of
violent agitation, followed by stupor, with
slow. full pulse, and dilated and immovable
pupils. When in this condition, touching any
portion of the body will sometimes cause a
short, plaintive cry; at others, the patient ut
tiers acute cries and carries MS mana frequently
to the head Delirium is very commonly pres
ent from an early period of the attack. In the
majority of cases there is more or less lntoIer,
ance of light and sound. In some complete
deafness. The patient winces upon the slight
est touch, even of the bed clothing. Dlmin-
ished sensibilty and confirmed stupor are
always indications of imminent danger. Some
times the respiration is irregular and difficult.
There Is often Unsuitable thirst, with great ten
derness upon pressure. The most striking
symptom of cerebro-spinal meningitis is that
presented by the muscular system. The mus
cces of the neck become rigidly contracted,
drawing the head back and firmly fixing it in
that position. Rigidity is very common in the
muscles of the extremities; in some epidemics
the muscles of the whole spine from the oeci,
put to the sacrum, being SO violently contracted
as to force the spine backwards"