The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-05-30
HEALTH BOARD ON SPINAL MEN
NIGHTS.
Disease Thoroughly Discussed in
Bulletin.

In the May bulletin issued by the
state board of health cerebrospinal
meningitis is fully discussed by the fol-
lowing article:
"A number of cases of cerebrospinal
meningitis have appeared in several
portions of the state during the past
month. The first reports were from
Appanoose county within few miles
from the Missouri line, in which state
the disease is reported to be alarmingly
prevalent. Several cases We're reported
in the city of Des Moines and at
Ankeny, some sixteen miles north.
Three cases developed almost stimuli
taneously in the same family.
"At the regular meeting of the state
board of health, April 10, a committee
consisting of Drs. Hanchet, Moerke,
Eiker, Decker and Koto was appointed
to investigate as to the true character
of the disease, it's mode of transmission
and the most effective means to be en-
ployed to prevent threatened epidemic.
"As the funds remaining at the dis
posal of the board are insufficient to
defray the eNpt nses of an extensive in
vestigation, Che executive council were
appealed to in the hope that some
but there seems to be no available funds
that can be legally used for this pur-
pose, and although the executive council
fully appreciates the serious danger of
AN epidemic, it is without authority to
convert money for this purpose.
after the adjournment of the April
meetings, DIR. Eiker visited various
points in northern Missouri, where the
disease was reported to be prevalent.
Upon investigation he found many cases
presenting all the clinical symptoms of
cerebrospinal meningitis and ELECTED
the information that the disease was
gradually spreading from numerous
centers of infection.
Gas the authorities had failed to
realize the infective character of the
disease, and consequently neglected to
adopt preventative measures, it had
attained foothold in numerous locali-
ties and was rapidly assuming epidemic
proportions. Numerous letters of in
quiry from physicians in southern Iowa
corroborate this opinion.
ION April II, upon invitation from the
attending physician, DR.. Patterson of
Ankeny, Drs. Linn, Moerke, Eiker and
the secretary visited the cases near
that town. There were six children in
the family, three boys and three girls.
The former had all contracted the
disease within thirty-six hours; one
died on the fifth day and the two re-
naming were in an extremely critical
condition, both exhibiting the typical
| symptoms of cerebrospinal meningitis.
Specimens obtained from the diseased
child were submitted to Professor Ross
of the sub-lavatory at Drake university,
who found the meningococus present in
the pus contained in the cranial cavity
and also in the brain tissue. We are in
formed that the same germ has been
found in some of the Appanoose county
cases, and as this organism is the one
generally recognized by pathologists as
the causative agent, there is conclusive
evider C that the disease is infectious
cerebrospinal meningitis.
up to the present time science has
been unable to determine the exact
point of invasion or mode Of transmission;
but reasoning from the experience
gained during the epdemics in some of
the eastern states, it seems probable
that the germ enters the system through
the nasal membranes, eventually travers-
ing to the coverings of the brain. AS to
the means by which it is transmitted we
are almost entirely in the dark. Fortu-
nately the organism appears to he of
low vitality and mildly resistent to
ordinary disinfectants, but it's rapid in
vasion and invariably fatal results dem.
onstrate the necessity for prompt and
: heroic measures of suppression. In view
of these facts the members of the com
mittee appointed by the state board o.
health, earnestly recommend strict