The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-05-15
Asefnl aud Curious.
SPINAL MeNINGlTIG.

Few Plain, Practical essseoeass.
(Fruu the ST. Lsuis Republican,
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,: Having very often for
the past few weeks noticed evidences in the forn
of various anxious inquiries made to me-that an
entirely unnecessary excitement exists among
our citizens in reference to the dread subject ot
spinal meninyifis-I offer you the following state
ments:
We do no the important facts that exposure
to . cold, damp atmosphere is an exciting and
developing cause Of the disease and that AL me
gular habits Of meals, drink clothing, sleep, DC,
scrupnlously avoided. have seen the disease IN
various parts Of Our country and in various conn
tries Of Europe, in London and in Paris, and
general observation shows it to be more preva-
lent and more severe in those seasons ana those
climates where the temperature Of the sfmos-
phere is the lowest, with the greatest degree OF
humidity OF dsmpness, and is most prevalent and
fatal in cold climates in spring and fall rs these
conditions obtain most largely ut those seasons
of the year. have treated many cases OF the
disease in Canada, and the most severe were
usually in the spring and fall, showing that the
extreme cold alone is not a strong An exciting
cause dampness. Many Of the worst cases l
have ever seen were in Georgia in winter. where
the above conditions obtain at that season.
PREVENTION.
II is manifest that an atmosphere which Is just
above the freezing point Of water, and at the
same time slrcharged with watery vapor, Is m
exciting cause. The instances above referred tO
in Georgia occurred in the winter Of 1869 and ~
1t was most severe among large concourse Of
negroes who assembled for u convention OF long
duration, where they were not regularly fed 0r
comfortably housed. and this indicates plainly
that irregular habits and insufficient protection
from cold and damp predispOse to the disease, or
at least, are developing causes. 1t is, therefore
plain that all should he as regular as possible IN
all their habits, and especially avoid cold
damp atmosphere Us much as possible, especially
the feet.
Many real, and moro fanciful, symptoms have
been published, which would lead many to have
the most fearful apprehension that they were
about to take the disease when they feel the
most trivial and most common Inconvenience oil
unpleasant sensation from cold, or fatigue from
too little sleep, or from any other cause. Let
NO one brighten himself into the conclusion
that he has spinal meningitis or spotted fevel
because he feels the uncomfortable or otheI
painful results usually resulting from IRE
gular habits or from contracting cold, which
have been presented BY several writers a. symp
toms Of the disease. Cerebro-spinal meningitis,i
somewhat prevalent in our city now, but not IN
its most severe form, and ia really not at present
as frightfnl here as the epidemic of smallpox
from which are now emerging, has been
hence no need be frightened, even though HI
has the real symptoms Of the disease. Spina
meningitis may be developed slowly or suddenly
In the former case, the patient generally first
complains If langnor, debility, sc: There is Of
ten general sense of soreness and stiffness o.
the muscles, which soon amounts to pain, being
very manifest in the head and back. The pa
tent usually complains Of chilly sensations, will
codness of the extremities, which are alternated
with flashes of heat and developing fever. Wher
the attack comes on suddenly, it may be usheret
in with well-marked chill. In some cases thu
first symptom Of the disease is severe pain il
the head or back. followed by severe chills, Of
rigors, alternated with flashes Of heat. Sever,
vomiting is an occasional form Ofinvasion. Stiff
ness in the muscles Of the back of the neck fire.
quently manifesto itself early in the disease, ana
spasmOtic contractiOns of these muscles and tn,
muscles Of the back often draw the head back
wards, and also the lower extremities backward
and upwards, presenting a very distressed condi
ten and appearance.
The above are the ordinary average symptom
Of the disease hut let be frightened to death
as they may have all these symptoms and ye
not he in much danger. The disease is not a
severe among it has often been in othe
places. Of the cases I have attended and hav,
been called to in counsel with different physi
clans i'm this city, have not seen or heard Of an.
as severe as have seen and treated elsewhere
and have not yet had the misfortune to see a cas-,
this season that has proved fatal.
j. W. H., NJ. ID.