The times., 1899-03-13

as cerebro-spinal meningitis, is caused by
the propagation OF certain micro organisms
in the system. In diphtheria there is a
predisposition on the part of certain mi
GRO organisms to attack the throat. In
spotted fever the membranes of the brain
and spinal cord are attacked. These micro
organisms enter the blood and are propa-
gated, but just how is not absolutely
known. They may be taken into the sys-
TEN in food and wafer and also breathed
into the lungs. The disease is probably
the most fatal known 10 medical science.
1t is overwhelming. Persons having il
frequently die in twenty-four hours and
generally within three or four days. The
mortality record runs from 80 to 30 per
cent.
Prevailing in the South.
II have been informed that it is prev
alent in the South, particularly at Savan-
nah and Louisville, and there are now three
cases In the Johns Hopkins Hospital IN
Baltimore. DR.. Osler, OF that hospital.
came to Washington and consulted with
Dr. RiXey when Naval Constructor
Dashiell was stricken last week saw him
at the time He told me the disease was
prevalent in Baltimore. Another physician
OF this city who has been called in con-
sultation in several cases in his city told
me that he is treating eight cases of Cere-
bro-spinal meningitis.
The symptoms denoting the disease are
very characteristics They are decidedly
positive No difficulty exists in making
diagnosis. Ii is a disease OF the brain and
spinal cord, and is essentially an inflam
nation of those parts of the nervous sys-
TEN. Among the earlier symptoms arN
vomiting, headache, pains in the limbs an
back. dizziness, rigidity Of the muscles Of
the neck, a throwing back of the head,
high fever. irreguaTty OF the action OF the
heart, and broken respiration. The suf-
ferer becomes dellrious in the early stages
OF the disease. This deIirium is followed
by stupidity and sometimes coma.
Camp conditions decidedly favor
able to the disease. At Savannah il was
found to exist among soldiers and affected
men were placed in a separate ward. Star
walton, privatiOn, improper food. suffering
and exposure. conditions which frequently
exist In military camps and among refu-
gees. most generally produce the disease.
The poorer classes are also more liable TO
contract the disease
Gases Should he Isolated.
Dr. Johnston was asked whether he
| thought something might be done by the
! Health Department to prevent The cpl
demic becoming more general. He replied
! afiirmatively. 1t would hardly be possible
| to do anything in the way of dsnfecting
| dwellings but cases could be isolated at
home by attending physicians. The disease
| may be epidemic, but not in the same
| sense that smallpox is epidemic. 1t seems
! TO be general just now" concluded DR..
| Johnston, but | have no great fear that ii
| will affect any large number of persons.
! 1t is always more fatal than general. Not
near as many cases OF spotted fever as OF
smallpox would be required to make the
| former worse epidemic. decidedly
smaller number Of persons would be ai-
! fccted with spotted fever but the death
] rate would be double and triple great
as that of smallpox. / do not think the
( public need be alarmed, is the disease IS
not contagious But it is 50 dangerous
/ think every precautiOn should be taken.
\ physician living in Sixth Street south
west informed Times reporter last even
ing that he had attended five cases Of cere-
ro-spinal meningitis within Two weeks
7 OF that number three had died. One OF
/ the remaining patients was in fair way
| toward recovery, but the outcome Of the
disease in the case Of the other was doubt
full Another physician living in Thirteenth
Street northwest has Il patient. TWO per
sons suffering with spinal menirsitis were
! treated at the Emergency Hospital last
week. Both patients died.