The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-02-05
Cerebro Spinal Meningitis $
.Ea;'ors -Abberille Press and Banner:

BY the unprolessioi'"' do W Wv
nature and symptoms Of the aoo7'
fatal disease, which is now prevalent
in Newberry and Anderson Counties
and there being some faint indlca
lions of its presence in the pelghoor-
hood of Abbevillo village, l have
thought that some account Ct the
disease might interest yourselves ana
readers of your journal. .'.
Meningitis is SO named from tn"
disease attacking the meningss or COZ"
erinqs ; membranes, and it's, a termlna'
ton. signifying infommation. The
disease, then, is an Inflammation OF
the membranes of the brain and spinal
cord.
1t is either general or local ep'
demic, having for its exciting cause
some specific morbid material or
poison, the nature of which has mover
been discovered, but supposed to be
similar to those septic gasses Or sub
stances that produce epidemic intlu-
enza, cholera, &c. =,
It has been contounded in turn With
each of the following diseases: Ty-
phus, Erysipelas, Scarletina, Dipth'
ria, Typhoid Fever, and Congestive
Malarial Fever in their .fuiminant or
explosive forms. But it is conceded
by the best authorities to prcsen,
features SO distinct and marked ss to
separate it as distinct disease differ
ing from any of the above.
The mass of testimony is against
it's being contagious, but such author
tiles rs Wirsch, Stokes and Boudin,
have given we'll authenticated in.
stances of its apparent communities
tion from the sick to the well: and the
safest plan where the disease declares
itself is to regard it as contagious,
and 4so overy means TO check its
spreading by cleanliness, ventilation,
and the early disinfecting and bury
ing of all "excreta."
This disease has prevailed during
every month in the year, but it's most
common outbreaks have occurred in
she Winter and Spring.
Although Mt quite an early date
epidemics bearing a resemblance to
Meningitis werc described by Euro.
poan writer's, yet for the lack Of idcn.
ti6oation by post mortem appearances,
the first recognized positive epidemic
of this disease occurred in the French
fleet at Brest in 1888, and in Germany,
italy, England and ireland.
In 1905 it appeared at Geneva,
Switzerland, and the next year (l8O6)
it was positively recognized, for the
first time, (at Med6eld, Mass } in
AMERICA, and from that time it has
steadily spread to the different States
of the Union.
In 1916 and 1917 the disease COM
mitted its first ravages in South Car
olina. 1t again visited South Caro-
lima during the years 1868 AMI 1864.
Its principal havoc was done among
the negroes at work on the fortifica-
lions, and soldiers in forts apd garri-
sons. This epidemic l witnessed in
Fort Sumter, where it prevailed to
a considerable extent among the
blacks, but some Of the soldiers fell
victims to this dread complaint.
The disease also prevailed in other
divisions of the Confederate army /;
also among tho Northern forces, as
shown by their army medical reports.
The first warnings Of its approach
are commonly WEAKNESS, chill, head
ache, especially in the hack Of the
head, or occipnt, and down the neck,
acute pains in the arms and legs
Sometimes pricking, cutting, grinding:
observation-disclosures Of vision and hear
ing, tenderness of the skin. The heat
Of tho skin increases. The number
of beats of the pulse is bat littlechang-
ed, but the pulse is weak and cempres'
ssible; afterwards convulsions aad 1e-
Janus, or spaslns, supervene; Some Of
the sufferers are So drawn back as
to rest upon their head and heels or
buttocks But occasionally the dis
ease is so sudden and violent in its
onset that no warning symptoms
appear. Convulsions, 1etanus or STU
T Tpor are the first indications. In some
homie OF hemoragic spots occur,
During the epidemic at Fort Sumter
I observed one symptom that | have
never seen mentioned by any writer
upon the disease. Although not
Universally present, it appeared in
the greater number, as an early
early indication of attack. The upper
lids of the eyes dropped, and the pa.
tients were unable to raise them, and
when told to look up, threw their
heads back. e
DR.. Robert Law, of Dublin, relates
o singular fact, that nine rabbits out
Of eleven, belonging to the son Of
lady suffering from this disease, died
of it., convulsed, and that two hens
fell dead from the roost. A dissection Of
the rabbits showed that the same part
Of the brain and spinal cord were +
involved as in the human subject.
The young and vigorous, from the
babe in arms to robust maturity, fur
nish its choicest victims. The attack 3
is sometimes fatal in few hours, but