The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-02-27
MENINGITIS.

|
The Savannah News publishes the follow
ing letter on meningitis, from a well-knowr
physician in that city. We are sorry to say
that it will prove seasonable reading in ou'
State just now; srSts.!sessD ?
SAVANNAH, February 16.
DEAR SIR: Your note is at hand request
ing my views upon the subject of meningitis
and asking of post mortem examination Of
case of this disease, which you say You
have just learned I made at the hospital.
I have no opinion about this malady
which can, in any sense, be regarded ai
peculiar-not with regard to its treatment
but in view of its somewhat widespread
prevalence. am willing to throw out some
we'll established timely hints, which you seem
to think may be of some good to the public.
|. AS the name (msningitis) of this disease
implies, it is an Inflammation of the meningitis
Cor membrane) of the brain and spinal cord
1t is therefore, more properly called cerebro-
spinal meningitis. M
The communication of DR.. Knott, to
which you call my attention, seems to dis
pute the idea of its being an inflammation.
He says, addressing himself to physicians,
that we must discard the idea of its being
an Inflammation" and treat it accordingly.
I have only had the opportunity Of making
an autopsy upon this one case. opened
the brain and examined every particle Of it
in the presence of several Of our physicians,
and there was. bnt one opinion expressed,
which was that it was a high grade of in-
Aammation of fcertainly two Of the membranes
the archanoid and the pia mater, which
are the two inner membranes lining the
brain. These two membranes extend into.
the spinal column, which we also examined.
and found the same results of infammatory
action there Now there are portions Of the
convolutions, or sulci, as they are called,
where these membranes do not obtain, and
in these We found no evidence Of infamma-'
ton, showing that it is confined to these
particularly to the araehnoid.
As far as my observation goes, which has
not been very large, it appears 70 be win
ter disease, and more likely to prevail in cold,
damp seasons of winter or early spring. /
do not remember ever seeing case in sum-
mer, and am very much inclined 70 the OPT
Mon that very large majority Of the cases
can be traced to exposure. In some places
for years past, both in this country and Eu-
rope. it has exhibited decided epidemic
tendency, and for this reason physicians
have assigned to it specific cause. 1t may
have specific cause (poison for instance, \
lurking in the atmosphere, but if 50, like
tho va uses vf ruauy oUfIer diseases, We nave
never found it out. Bat as remarked above,
the only existing cause that l have been
been able to assign is exposure to cold and
dampness, and therefore great care should be
exercised in this regard, particularly to
avoid colo, damp drafts Of air while sleep
ing, and after getting wet to change to dry
clothes as soon as possible
As regards the treatment of this disease,
my impressions are that most oftheremedles
that have suggested, and the plans Of treat
ment laid down "sure cures" have thus far
proved very unsatisfactory. All the cases
certainly cannot be treated alike with any
of success. The physician must
be governed by the circumstances Of each
case as he is called to them. What would
do one good, would kill another, and there
fore no routine Of treatment can be laid
down, but the good judgment of the physi.
clan must guide him and if he has not good
judgement, he has no business attempting
the management of case of cerebro-spinal
meningitis. Young persons are supposed to
be more liable to it than others, particularly
young men from fifteen to twenty-five years.
I am yours, respectfully,
j. G.. THOMAS, NJ. D.