The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-02-24
MENINGITIS, ITS CAUSE AND
TREATMENT,

y condensed, issued by the state
Board of Health, giving practical IN
;tructiOn concerning meningitis:
Cause.-The meningococcus is now
almost universally accepted as the
specific causative agent OF this dis
ease. as this micro-organism is al
most constantly found in the tissues
and secretions Of persons suffering
with this disease.
Observation-Disclosures diagnosis
in every instance is important, in adj
dition to other observations.
Carriers-It is not we'll establish
ed that this micro organism is fire.
quently present in the nasopharynxI
of persons who show either no clinl-
cal manifestations whatever of such
infection or only slight local mani
festations. These "carriers" have
been demonstrated almost exclusive
ly among: % Persons Intimately
associated with cases Of meningitis.
(2l Persons not directly associated
with clinically recognizable cases,
but residing in communities where
the disease is epidemic. (3) less rare
ly among persons in communities
where only sporadic cases have oc-
Cured.
In healthy carriers, as in persons
i'll with meningitis it would appear
that the heterogeneous commonly
persist for only a short period, but in
exceptional instances may persist
for periods of many weeks.
Condtion-The disease IS general
ly more prevalent in crowded dis
tricts among the poorer classes liV-
ing under unhygienic conditions, but
it is by no means limited to these.
Not Highly Contagious-Cerebro
spinal meningitis does not present
the characteristics we are accuStom-
ed to associate with a contagious
disease. It is unusual to find more
than one case of the disease in a
family. The comparative rarity OF
! cases among the members Of the pa
tients families and among physicians
and hospital attendants makes it
seem quite certain that the disease
is not highly contagious.
Serum Treatment ESsential-The
serum when promptly and properly
| used effects a substantial reduc'
| ion in mortality, shortens the course
of the disease and reduces the pro-
portions of disastrous sequelae.
revention-Because Of the number
of health carriers of this malady and
| impracticability Of examinations tc
discover all prevention of the spread
of the disease is a matter of extreme
| difficulty. However, this does not
| Justify carelessness. The obligation
resting on local and state authorities
is to do everything possible IN the
way of prevention. The following
measures are suggested as practica
bic and necessary:
o. Reporting of all cases on
suspicion.
CO. Isolation of patients and dis
infection of nasopharangeal dis
charges, as for diptheria. The ut,
most cleanliness among all associates
of the patient and the use of anti
septic gargles and nasal douches.
g. Suchs restriction as practica'
bic to communicate between the as
sociates of the patient and others
placarding the house, exclusion Of I'm
necessary visitors, exclusion Of the
| children of the family from school
and so far as possible combining tc
the house all members of the family
| who are not obliged 60 out in pur
suit of necessary business. Quaran
tine of the bread winners on the as
sumption that they are carriers is OIL
doubtful justification,
a. The public might we'll be ad
vised when the disease is prevalent
in community, to minimize thei
ohances Of infection by keeping away
from large public gatherings, by
avoiding the use Of common eating
or drinking utensils, the public drink
ing cups, the common towel and b!