Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1912-01-23
Health officer Steine1s
Report on Meningitis

day submitted to Governor Colquitt a
report on the meningitis situation, an
extract from which was received by
telegraph and published in yesterdays
Eagle. The full report follows:
governor o. B. Colquitt, AUSTIN
Dear Sir: In view of the prevalence
of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis
in the state, l have felt it advisable
to submit a short report upon this
! disease.
by invitation of the city of Dallas
and upon request of the state board
Iof health, DR.. A. Sophian OF the
| Rockefeller Scientific Research Insti-
tute at New York was sent to Dallas
with the view of investigating the dis
ease and assisting the local health ap-
thorities in it's management and con-
} troll wish to make public acknowl-
: edgment of the valuable service rem
dered by this talented gentleman and
to assure him the state of Texas will
always remember him with gratitude.
"At my request, the surgeon general
J of the United States detailed Passed
Assistant Surgeon R. H, Won Ezdorf to
service in Texas. DR.. Won Ezdorf is
, man of large experience In public
health work and of recognized ability.
He assisted DR.. Tabor in the fight
against yellow fever in 1903 and was
the representative of the federal gov
eminent at the quarantine station,
New York, at the time of the recent
cholera. invasion. He is now in this
state and, in connection with the
health department, is investigating
the epidemic of meningitis. | trust
and believe, with his assistance, may
be able to submit in the near future
report which will prove of inestimable
value.
"The state board of health has not
advised general quarantine. In sup
port of this position, beg to submit
the following opinions upon epidemic
meningitis from standard authorities:
"During the past fifteen years there
I have been localized outbreaks in many
a lands. In the United States during
|. 1S9S-99 it prevailed in mild form in
4 twenty-seven states. In New York, in
n 19O4.O5, there were 6755 cases with
!. 3455 deaths. The epidemics are local
y lied, occurring in certain regions and
:. are rarely widespread. AS rule
/, country districts have been more al
) ficted than cities. The disease seems
/ not directly contagious and is prob
). ably not transmitted by clothing or
v the excretions. 1t is very rare to have
@ more than one or two cases in a house
g and in a city epidemic the distribu-
@ ton of the cases is very irregular.
(The Principles and Practice of Med
O icine. by VIM. Osler, seventeenth edl-
i ton. d. Appleton & Co., 1919
g "To this time epidemics of cerebro-
a spinal meningitis, without exception
\. have characterized themselves by be
$ ing limited to very small districts.
a. Modern Clinical Medicine; Infectious
Diseases. D. Appleton & Co., 1911
Epidemics of cerebro-spinal men
nights are totally unlike epidemics Of
O. cholera, of plague, or of typhoid fever
!, The epidemics do not spread out from
,s a center. as do the contact" or chain
- like epidemics, nor are they "explo
;, sive" like water epidemics.' (Prac
:, tical Treatment; Muser & Kelly. W
:, B. Saunders & Co., 1917
= 81 have given these opinions in or
:, der to assure your excellency thai
- general quarantine in the present in
= stance is unscientifc and unneces
: sary. Our larger cities have avoided
- this error, but number of our smaller
: towns have quarantined against in
: fected points and some even agains
the world. The result has been ex
IRENE annoyance to the travelling pub
lie, heavy losses, Inconvenience t.
railroads and the commercial interests
= of the state.
Il need only point to San Antonio
- Austin, Ell Paso, Houston, Galveston
and Beaumont, all of which have beef
" open, to emphasize the needlessnes
:, of general quarantine. The state boar
of health has instructed the Isolation
and quarantine of individual cases an
contacts. This, in so far as | am in
" formed, is the only precaution, in tn
nature of quarantine, that has bee
advised, or adopted by any state il
the Union or country in the world.
" 81 have also the pleasure OF inform
ing your excellency that general cor
=, ditions throughout the state are raj
" idly improving. Epidemic neningiti
~ is a cold weather disease. | look TO
40 marked decrease in cases on retur
of seasonable conditions. Yours truly