Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-04-20
Cerebro-SpinaI Meningitis.

Editorial reference is made by THE
Medical Record" of this city, to mode
of treatment of cerebro-spinal meningi-
tbs which originated abroad, about ten
years ago As tried by Aufrecht, whose
nationality can only be guessed, 1t con-
sisted of hot bath. lasting fifteen min
utes aud administered twice day, an
ice pack being applied to the patients
head in the mean time. The tempera-
ture OF the bath was 104 degrees Fahr-
enheit From the fact that DIR. Stock
ton, of Buffalo, reviewed the literature
on the subject for recent issue of the
| Albany Medical Annals" it may be
inferred that the system iscomparative-
! " new to Americans However that
may be, the most enthusiastic testimo-
nv is offered by Russian named Ro-
gansky. OF 81 patients whom he treat
ed in the manner here described "a re-
covered and II died, the mortality being
SO per cent OF so cases in which the
Aufrecht method was not adopted 40tor
80 per cent? resulted fatally. Some di-
versity of opinion concerning the vir-
tines of the treatment is said to exist,
but in the figures given by Ragansky
ssThe Medical Record" finds reason for
recommending trial of the hot bath by
physicians in New-York and other
American cities.
What appears 20 be variation of the
same thing was briefly outlined in
Boston dispatch. DR.. Brough, noted
brain specialist, is represented as say
ing that in cases which have come un-
der his observation land which were
probably under his care) only the por-
ton of the body below the waist was
subject 70 the heat, and above that
line ice was used. The principle involv-
ed in the Boston venture is identical
with that which underlies the Aufrecht
system. The blood is driven from the
seat of disease and attracted to other re-
gions. In one instance, though, the
brain alone is regarded as the srene OF
battle, and in the other the enemy is
attacked both in the brain and spinal
column. Theoretically, at least, there is
sense in the Boston modification of the
plan, and it is TO be hoped that statisti-
cal information about its effects will be
forthcoming. The profession will also
be glad to know whether there is any
difference in the length of time each
day during which the two methods are
practiced.
Two other modes of treatment have
recently been proposed. One was tried
by DR.. William Tod Helmuth, of this
city, week or more ago. He removed
two small sections Of patients skull
to facilitate the discharge of the serum
which is product of the disease and
the pressure of which upon the brain is
believed to be one of the mischief max
ing forces of the disorder The opera
tion had practically the same intent as
an older one which is still in vogue,
though the value of the latter is not
fully assured. Surgeons sometimes in
troduce needle pointed syringe into
the canal that contains the spinal mar
row, near what is popularity called ''the
small of the back" and draw off the
fluid which they find there; but whether
trephining is better than lumbar
puncture" cannot be determined from
single experiment. If Dr. Helmuth s
example is followed by other physicians
they should scrupulously report the con-
sequences. q
The second innovation in practice is
the use of the antitoxin of diphtheria in
fighting cerebro-spinal meningitis Up
to the present time enough has not been
accomplished with that agent to con-
vince many physicians in New York,
but it is being tried rather extensively
in New England. The dispatch from
Boston, already referred to, indicates
that the Massachusetts, State Board of
Health is furnishing the antitoxin free
ly to all who wish to employ it. Evi-
i IDENTIFY, therefore, medical men will be
| in better position few months hence
then ever before to make wise choice
of remedies.-N. Y. Tribune.