Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-12

method of its propagation is not positively
known is at best but negative PROOF or It's
virulency. Obviously, the disease Is pro-
crossing in spite of the various theories as
to its real cause.
1t is also true that the specific micrope
acts in very peculiar way and has an eiec-
tive affinity for certain individuals and GER
tain localities. No continuous train Of in
fectivity can be traced. The disease jumps
from one place to another without any con-
Meeting trail. Rarely more than two mem
bers of the same family are stricken.
Crowded and insanitary localities are
charged favorng the spread of the dis
ease, and yet SparSely settled rural local-
ties give larger relative mortality than
tenement districts. Again, the simultane-
GUS occurrence over wide sections of coun-
try of epidemics of equal severity, having
the same malignant types, is hardly to be
explained by erratic microbe that Is
here, there and everywhere at the same
instant, and Is withal VIGOROUSLY partial In
its death-dealing infections. From such
points of view 1t must be admitted that the
medical profession, in spite OF Its brilllant
discoveries in other directions. has yet to
master the still undiscovered law of cpl
deinic influences as applied to this particu-
lar malady.
The meningitis commission has no idle
task before it. The problems to be solved
are numerous and knotty. 1t must be al
lowed, for the arguments sake, that the
specific microbe Is the controlling factor in
disease dissemination, but the how and why
are the questions exceedingly difficult to
answer. This is particularly the case with
cerebro-spinal meningitis, that has pecu-
liarities of it's own; has strange and I'M
usual methods of attack, and often pro-
duceS similar symptoms from different MI
crobes, but always with malignancy that
determines like issue. II is possible this
latter element Of the disease that explains,
in some sense at least the alleged curative
property of the diphtheria antitoxin. In
view of the favorable results in some OF
the cases of mixed infection, one or more
of the accidental toxins may have been
neutraliZed, while the principal one, that
happened to be inconsderable in yirulency
and possibly untouched was more easily
overcome by natural vital resistance Of
the patient. Such an assumption would give
a reasonable explanation for the cases that
proved fatal in spite of the new treatment
At best, whatever theory there may be
on the subject, the diphtheria antitoxin is
the only promising agent, such as 1t u.s.
that is within reach. Tapping the spinal
column and trephining the skull, while they
are useful for relieving pressure of accumu-
lated fluid. are mostly mechanically pallia-
tive measures which in some instances may
tide the patient over one Of the crises In
the disease. While we await future devel-
opment Of the true nature of this mystic
rious ailment we cannot do better than fol-
low the strictest hygienic rules. which APP
ply even to the most infectious OF maladies.
Presenting that close housing. insanitary
homes and the absence of sunlight and air
are contributing factors to the situation.
we can at least open our doors and win
dOws to these every ready life savers. Hap
PLY the spring Is at hand. when such pre-
ventives Of Infection In any shape can be
made eminently safe and easily available.
As is the case In all epidemics. the weaker