Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-02-28
ments prevented me studying the ooulsr LESSONS,

ments prevented me studying the ocular LESSONS,
as wished to hotsif any difference existed be-
tween the eye LESSONS OF the two diseases.
The fever at Aurora and cereOro spinal fever
certainly present symptoms common TO each
other, but there are other symptoms SO entirely
different that to my mind, the fever at Aurora
Is entitled to separate study. Both diseases
surely belong to the acute infectious maladies,
and are TO limited degree contagious. They
may prevail Era ely, however, as = sporadic
disease, but generally as an epidemic, though
usually limited as to extent of country invaded
and duration OF existence in given locality. II
cerebro spinal fever Is contagious, as stated by
Professor j. Lewis smith, II. D., in his classical
article upon that subject in the recent work of
keatlng, and as Professor Still also saws,
though not strongly contagious, we must claim
like limited contagion for disease nearly
allied to that disease az the ons which, appar-
We may infer that the disease
in question is of niicrobic origin. While its
germ has not yet been isolated and expert
ments ly cultivated, reasoning By analogy, we
may conclude that its nature is such. Those
diseases WI. en- science has proved to be due TO
micro Organisms have certain concomitants,
curves, crises, ETC., thereby enabling US to sat
isfactorily determine that like nature exists
in regard to given disease, although its mate
ries morbi has not been demonstrated. The
comma bacillus OF cholera is now well known;
the red-shaped bacteria OF Khlebs is recognized
whenever the etiology of typhoid fever is under
consideration; and that of Friedlander in the
miCrococcus of croupous pneumonia. These We
know are essential diseases; belong to the
acute infectious Glass; may become epidemic.
By the history, nature and analogy mani
tested Dy these diseases we know that the
disease in question is of like class and has GER
tain attributes IN common-infectiousnesS or
consciousness, and epidemical dis position. If
1t is true that micrococcus like that of pneu-
nonia has been determined as belonging to cere-
bro spinal fever, this disease and the Aurora
fever being similar in some features, though
o1sSimilar in others, may infer an elective
ness that will confer contagiousnsss and cpl de-
micity upon one well upon the other.
This disease, Whatever its undetermined true
nature may be, while not so heartrending as
cerebro spinal fever, because Of the absence OF
perhaps should be more dreaded. Six out of
twelve de2di and three of the six living were
better If dead. What pictured
think the nature OF the disease at Aurora, Is
hemaclytic spinal fever, with peri and intra
artcular Inflammation with effusicn, hsmor-
Thsge into the skin, etc.
DO not believe the same disease has existed
upon the American continent within seventy
i've years. Jackson and others between the
years 1910 and 1915 described the disease under
upon the disease were read and discussed re-
terring TO it as it prevailed in Massachusetts
within the dates mentioned.
In no case that have seen, nor of which
have read, were the prominent symptoms ex-
hibited that saw at Aurora, except those re-
ferred to IN the foregoing.
1t Is to be hoped that no community within
the next seventy i've years will again suffer the
athiction through which Aurora is now passing.
Should the disease then appear, some savant |
obtains will, in my mind readily discriminate |
between cerebTo spinal fever and the disease |
now interesting US, as did our predecessors in |
the separation of typhoid and typhus fever, and |
measles and scarlatina.
The people OF our sister village aud her three |
brave physicians, have the sympathy of all /
TEXANS e. j. BEALI,, NJ. D.
Fort Worth, Tex, Feb. "a, 1890.