Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-20
DEADLY MENINGITIS
vIENNESE PROFESSOR DESCRIBES
THE GERM OF DISEASE.
Science Bafi1ed as to All Phases-Infec.
ton Carried by Mucous
From Nose.

Prof. Weichselbaum recognized AZ the
first authority on cerebro-s spinal meningitis.
who discovered its EXETER in 1857. and
which is called after him. ''Micrococcus
cerebro-spinalis Weichselbaum,' In an in
terview with correspondent OF the New
York World recently declared:
My experience is that the disease prn-
cipaily attacks children and youthful in
diViduais 1t, of course. differs widely in
Its manifestations. In many cases death
ensues after few days-others after
three and even four weeks
Frequent recoveries have happened but
with disastrous consequences, such as
paralysis or deafness. Science is by no
means satisfied in regard to the manner OF
ipfection. I have ascertained that in most
cases the excite of the disease enters
through the nose. Nearly all patients in the
first stage suffer with mucous insamma-
ton, the nasal conditions resembling those
often seen In common eatarrh. The dis
ease spreads from the nose 10 the meninges
tmembranesl of the brain
This gives an important hint for pre-
venting Infection. Patients should not
only be isolated, but strict care should he
taken that the matter secreted does not
II may be carried elsewhere Handker-
chiefs used by the patient should be care
fully disinfected.
A Spring Disease
THE disease generally occurs in the
spring, probably because OF the sudden
changes in temperature, causing colds that
dispose individuals favorably for the ingress
of the disease
The epidemic Is likely to last from one
to two months. until outward circumstances
or temperature and weather have changed.
1t being almost certain that infection is
carried by the mucous from the nose
The greatest danger arises from peonle
living In close quarters In damp lodging
houses. barracks, schools and orphanages
consider meningitis, though far less infe,-
tious than scarlet fever or cholera but It
is much more malicious, because Il may take
the form of simple cold in the head and
patients cannot be isolated. Another
great danger exists in the fact that science
has not yet ascertaned all the ways Of
infection
No Epidemics in Vienna.
In Vienna fromHfve to six cases occur
yearly. Why they 40 not lead to epidemcs
is secret. This year the European cpl
demic began In Prussian Silesia and spread
to Galicia, and quite lately 10 Austrian
Silesia. But the mortality cannot be com
pared to the American epidemic which [
consider highly alarming
Next to Prof. Weichselbaum as an
Gohn, who makes post-mortem examina-
tons for Prof. Weichselbaum. He says
that since the micrococcus was discovered
scientific research has not stopped a
ment. All single cases and epidemics have
been investigated
American Specialists Mallory Councilman
and Wright have all continued in the
direction shown by Prof Weichselbaum
and have confirmed his discovery, which
has been adopted by all the world over
cept in Germany. where especially Jaeger
and Heubner advise an operation by which
matter is drawn from the spine. But
this has been without favorable results
Prof. Gohn. who has dissected more
meningitis bodies thar any one, Is full OF
pity for the Victims He describes the
spectacle of n little child suffering death
from meningitis as heart-rending.
Anti-Toxin No Cure.
There is no longer any hope that the
diphtheria anti-toxin will cure cerebro-
spinal meningitis. 1t was declared positive
ly at Gouverneur Hospital In New York
Gently that the net result of the treat
ment there. from January 20 to date. was
death rate Of the same percentage as pre-
vailed there last year, when the anti
toxin was not used.
In the beginning there were high expec-
tations of great results from this treat
ment. which originated with DR.. Arthur
]. Wolff. bacteriologist of the board of
health of Hartford. Conn. He treated four
The treatment was first taken up in
New York by DR.. Edward Waitzfelder.
consulting physician to the Randal's Is
land Hospital and visiting physician to
Gouverneur Hospital. Under his direction
during January and February the diph-
iberia serum was injected into seventeen
patients, of whom eight recovered. The
experiments have been continued by DR..
Edwin A. Cotton, house physician at
Gouverneur.
The meningitis commission. the bac-
health department and physicians and
scientists generally gave like adverse YER
diet on the serum.
Look for No Results.
Prof William II. Park, bacteriologist OF
the New York board of health. declared
that there was little likelihood that any
meningitis antl-toxin would develop from
present experiments Anyway. he said, it
would be month or two before the serum
could be produced. This feeling OF
scepticism is known to pervade the menin-
gifts commission.
Meantime the meningitis edipemic keeps
on spreading in New York and through all
the territory within $50 miles. There We're
eighteen deaths Wednesday in the greater
city; thirteen in Manhattan, two in the
Bronx, three in Brooklyn and none in
Queens and Richmond. Between noon
Saturday and noon Wednesday there were
forty-seven deaths in Manhattan, against
forty-six In the four days OF the previous
week. Since Saturday noon there have
been seven deaths in the Bronx, against
four In the entire week.
In Brooklyn the epidemic is on the de-
cline. temporarily at least. There have
been only ten deaths there since Satnr-
day. proportion which would give eight
cen deaths for the current week. against
thirty-fve in the week previous.
Many People Anxious About Children.
Many persons have consulted the health
department about the advisability of TAX
ing their children out of the city. 1t
said meningitis is more prevalent in
New York than elsewhere, in proportion to
the population. 1t Is present in many
smaller cities, and in towns and villages
which are considered to be health resorts.
There is scarcely any place where il does
not exist this spring to some extent. Ac-
cording to the New York health officials
1t will gradually spread until 1t has extended