Evening journal., 1912-03-22
MANY CARRIERS OF
SPINAL MENINGITIS
Or. King Traces SOurSe Of
Bread Disease by a
Lengthy Research

NEW ORLEANS. March pa dis
euyery of immense importance to hu-
manly has been made through the
tracing of ms source Of con.agion oe
that rayaging disease known as cpl
demic cerebro-spinal meningitis.
From a report made by DR., Howard
d. King of Tulane University, it ap-
pears that persons apparently healthy
are carriers OF the disease.
Hitherto carriers" of disease were
supposed to be rare individuals. IN
epidemic Cerebro-spinal meningitis
DR. King finds them abundant In
this disease the carriers appear TO
be large portion of the community
that happens to be near those who are
i'll with the malady
Epidemic corebro-spinal meningitis
which has been one of the most puz-
zling plaques that ever has been
known, has been at all times parties
ularly prevalent in the United States.
In recent years IL has occupied a
place of special importance in medi-
cal research work.
Has Long Been Puzzle.
One of the mysteries that hung
about il was it's means of communica-
bihty, Carriers have been suspect
ed In typhoid fever and in smallpox
these have been well known. They
were immensely rare but they existed
Epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis
presents a new phase TO the matter
OF "disease-carriers."
DR.. King in his report states:
NEARLY one-quarter of all those in
diyiduals residing in the immediate
vicinity of meningitis cases act as
carriers. They harbor the germs
In thc respiratory tract without ia
convenience or evidence of disease"
I'm other words, where the malay
has broken out one out of four per-
sons eventually act as promulgators
of the disease. whether or not tney
are constitutionally capable OF con-
tracing ii in its virulent form.
The report goes ON to tell that
these persons are capable and likely
ia communicate the disease TO all with
whom they come in contact. They
breathe it from their lips and cast il
about as they talk.
For the comfort of the human race
il should be said that the germ of
this disease that labors under the
scientific term Of diplococcas in
meningitis Is one of The
frailest of all known malignant hac-
teria lt is for this reason that the
disease is one largely peculiar 70
childhood Among the young. sow-
ever. ii has done terrific havic
Could Not Accoun for Spread.
How It has spread from one house
hold TO another has often been a mys-
terry II has travelled with remarka-
bic rapidity. Weschbaum, the noted
German bacteriologist discovered the
germ. IL has been shown that cere-
hro-spinal meningitis. In it's ordinary
form. is far apart from the epidemic
disease. The former may be produced
from many causes. Injuries or tu-
berculosis may produce meningitis.
The epidemic form Of the disease Is
caused by a specific germ.
The remarkable way in which the
disease spreads IS explained in Dr.
Kings report Those who came in
contact with il. other than the very
young failei to develop Il. but they
were ju- as capable of carrying
the malady as il they were in with it..
How TO C0unterae, Evil.
The doctor presents an elaborate
plan for overcoming this situation.
The source of contagion through the
carrier is in the throat and nose lie
suggests the .os stringent antisep-
tice and quarantine measures be en-
forced upon all who come IN contact
with case OF the disease He be-
lieves this is the only way by which
the carrier" can be even partially
suppressed