Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-10
cEReBRO.sP,N FEVER.

| Ihe disease is niue understood ny tue
medical profession. altho it has been
known to exist for many years.
tributes the following treatise on tn"
| disease in which the best authorities
we nave in this country. have con-
Cured In the general acceptance of
the term contagious, the disease Is not
to be classed with smallpox, measles.
etc. 1t is infectious from atmospheric
or other local conditions. The state
board of health, however, has classed
| 1t among such diseases as hsiatic chol-
era, bubonic plague, and for that rea-
son local boards of heath enforce
quarantine.
The communication telling Of the
disease Is as follows:
| meningitis. meaning an inIiamma-
| ton of the membranes investing the
brain and spinal cord. or both, is a
disease occasionally met with in every
community, and as a rule is in the
form of a secondary or terminal in
lection following or complicating some
other disease. notably cholera infan-
tum typhoid fever. pneumonia, eryslp-
elias. and other septic infections.
Appearing in this form it means
simply an invasion of the cerehro-
spinal membranes, by the infective
agents or toxic principle of the pri-
mary disease. and is an extremely
dangerous and usually fatal complica-
ton. This form of the disease. as we'll
as the mere chronic tuberculor type
while similar in many respects as re-
CARDS symptoms and termination, Is
nevertheless radically different from
the prevailing epidemic watch is dis
tinct and separate disease. caused by
an infective agent which attacks pri-
marily the cerebro-spinal membrane.
This disease, commonly known as
cerebro-spinal fever, some times called
spotted fever" has probably long eX-
listed, but was first described in the
early part of the last century by
Swiss physician, whose observations
touching ain epidemic al Geneva III
1906, is the earliest literature we have
on the subject The disease first made
it's appearance in this country In east
ern Massachusetts during the same
wear. From this date, until 1880, IL
pervailed in many parts of the United
States. Since then it has reappeared
at intervals of from fifteen to twenty
years in various parts of the country,
it's distribution becoming more general
of late. In 1889 ii was reported as
prevailing in twenty-seven states.
THE epidemics are localized, ana
are rarely very widespread. Outbreaks
occur most frequently in winter ana
spring AS a rule country districts
have ben more afflicted than cities.
Children and young adults are most
susceptible AS predisposing influences,
over exertion. exposure to climatic
change, depressing mental and bodily
surroundings, and bad hygienic condl-
lions. have been cited The disease is
not contagious in the sense of being
communicable by contact as is measles,
SMALLPOX. etc, but is infectious from
prevailing atmospheric or other con-
ditions, after the manner of lagrippe.
1t is very rare to find more than one
or two cases in house and in city
epidemics the distribution Of cases is
very irregular.
.'The disease is believed to be due to
a germ called the diplococcus intercei-
lularis which gains access to the men
inges probably by way of the blood
supply. and excites a local intiamma-
ton characterized first by intense con-
eestion and later by a creamy purulent
exudate which covers the surface of
the membranes and fills interspaces.
LAS regards the course and SYMPTOMS
of the disease there is marked varia-
ton in different epide.nics. Two prin-
cipal forms are rccognized-the
malignant and the ordinary. In the
first form the onset is sudden. usually
with violent chills, intense headache,
delirium, rapid feeble pulse, coma and
death. Often notified appearance of
the surface is present from which was
derived the old name spotted fever"
Many of these cases terminate fatally
within twenty four hours. The 'ordin-
airy form of the disease sets in sud
denly with headache, pains in back,
and loss Of appetite. There is rise of
temperature, full strong pulse, and
painful stiffness of muscles of the
neck. The headache increases, and
there is great sensativeness to light
and sound. In severe cases the head
is drawn backward between the
shoulders There is extreme restless
ness and delirium. The pain is chief
ly in the back of the head and extends
to the neck and spine. The severer
cases of this type usually terminate
fatally within week. Others run a
variable course Of from three weeks to
as many months, terminating in recov-
cry sometimes with impairment of
some important function, as of sight