The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-18

spring. So far as can learn the first
case OF epidemic cerebro-spinal msnin-
sitis in Indiana occurred at Castleton
Marion county, in the spring of i>,io.-
During six years prior 10 this. cases
had occurred either sporadically or
more often. i'll epidemics. in North Car
olina. New York. Missouri. Ohio. Ken
lucky, and Tennessee.
Essay by Or. weis,.
In Indiana the disease spread rapidly
and as DR.. J. X. Weist. i'll a prize essay
on cerebro-spinal meningitis present.
ed before the Indiana State Medical
association. in ms, said: Indeed dur.
ing the winters of l>,s,-,S; and i>,c:-,;i
cases were probably observed in most
of the counties of the state Speaking
of cerebro-spinal meningitis before the
State Medical association i'm I~S,. pr.
Y. kirsey. of Richmond made the sig
nificant statement that A notice had
occasionally appeared OF its prevalence
in some parts of the country and il
had been nearing us for year or more
| from two sides. before ii made its ap-
pearance in this city"
| meningitis of l:p+l:ss; in New York
City, many cases have appeared in 9th
er parts of the United States: among
other places in Ohio. Illinois and Mis-
souri,. Ii thus seems as il the disease
has been nearing us for a year or
more. from two Sides and il will be
no more than should be expected II
an unusually large number Of cases OF
, meningitis occur in Indiana. during
the winter and spring. This note OF
warning is sounded with the hope that
physicians will be on the alert To rec
| ogniZe the cases early. for early dag
noSis is almost an essential to success
! full treatment
Serum Was Secured.
About a year ago. the State Board OF
Health secured a supply of FlcNner's
antimeningitis serum. DIR. FleXncr
| furnishes this serum free of charge on
one condition. namely, that full elm
| ical history of the case be kept and
sent &c him. together with the results
of archaeological examinations of
| smears and cultures from the cerebro-
| spinal fluid. In order tn fulfill these
1
stefan have adequate laboratory facii-
| tiles. The archaeological laboratory
of the State Board OF Health has CON-
| plete outfit for making lumbar pune
lures, injecting the serum and examining
| of the fluid right i'm the home of the
| patient. Any physician who has a
suspected case of epidemic cerebro-spi-
nal meningitis. can telegraph or tele-
phone to DIR. J. p. Simonds. superin-
tendent of the laboratory. and he will
come at once. prepared To make a spi-
nal punctdre, examine the fluid mi
croscopically and inject the serum
Health officers who hear of a case of
meningitis i'm their territory will do
well to call the attending physicians
attention to the availability of this Sc
rum for treatment.
| Second Case Here.
The first case OF epidemic ecrebro-
spinal meningitis for which We have
supplied serum. occurred in TT. Wayne.
i'm November. This was an extremely
virulent infection i'm an infant i'm which
internal hydrocephalus developed. The
case terminated fatally. The second
| case was in Richmond during Deem
Der. The serum was not used until
the seventh or eigth day Of the disease.
when the boy was in very critical
condition. In spite of temporary i'm
provement after the first few injec-
lions of serum. this case also terminal
ed fatally. II is evident. therefore.
| that the serum has not had 4 fair trial
i'm Indiana Health officers who read
this should call the attention Of the
members OF their county societies to
i the use OF this serum and to the readi-
ness of the meteorological laboratory
of the State Board OF Health to coop
crate with physicians in diagnosing