The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-17
DEVELOP SERUM
TO KILL DREADED
SPINAL SCOURCE
English Physicians in Army
Find Cure for Four
Types of Disease.

London, Jan. 17-One Of the most
remarkable stories of the war, and
especially interesting to Americans in
view Of last summers epidemic of
| infantile paralysis, is, the fight against
cerebro spinal meningitis which the
| British army is making, with large
| measure of success.
| The fact was discovered that four
! types of this dread spotted fever"
germ existed, and that each type
| must be treated with a particular
serum. The story of the attack then
made on the disease in home camps.
is told in a report ust published by
the Medical Research Committee. 1t
was feared enormous toll would be
taken, and at once a base laboratory
was equipped by the Royal Army
Medical Corps, and 81 district lab.
| oratories sctarted. An especially
equipped travelling laboratory was
also put into commission and special
tests of suspected cases were begun.
1t was discovered by so-called ag
glutination tests that the four types
Of meningococci existed. Until this
time the weapons to fight them had
hconsisted of serum intended to de-
llfeat only one type. The reason for
the comparative failure of this serum
and the high mortality from the di
sease began to be apparent.
Steps then were taken to identify
type 2, type and type of the mein-
ingococus. AS soon as defined speci-
mems of each type were procured they
were forwarded to those who prepare
Advantageous serum. The sue
cess of the specific serum, however, is
dependent in no small degree on early
administration, which implies early
diagnosis.
Investigation of the types went on
apace, and in each case the germ was
found not only in the fluid surround
ing the brain but in the nose of the
patient. 1t was accepted that the
disease began when the germ was
able to pass from the nose to the
brain. The question then arose: "Can
it be said that if patient has type 1
In his nose he has type 1 in his
brain ?"
Again, since the infection is direct
lection follow type L? Does the-ear-
AICI VI ~ pc SPI eau IS OI1y
1t was soon proved that:
The first case of cerebro spinal
fever yields only a single type of
meningococus from the cerebro spinal
fluid; that is, the case is always
strictly of one type or another.
The type found in the nose is al
ways the same type rs in the brain.
Because the germ is always present
49,
attack, in every case the disease is an
instance of the carrier becoming the
victim of his own infection.
Finally, the type breeds true in
every case. The types are not inter-
changeable, they are separate breeds,
as separate as white men, black men,
yellow men.
On the heels of this knowledge
came the weapons forged to destroy
the muingococus. First, there was
rapid administrative handling. When
ever case was diagnosed the details
were ascertained at once; by tele-
phone if the case was in the London
area. Then the serum was admins
tered.
An example is furnished by an out
break which occurred in large gar
rison in the spring of 49, Capt |
Armstrong examined a large section |
of the whole garrison, in all 10000 |
men, the vast majority of whom had
not been in contact with the cases. AS
result provisional isolation was
made of 40 men, of whom soon after !
sc became free of organisms. All the
remaining 324 had meningococus-like |
organisms. OF these 221 actually |
carried the specific meningococus. In |
no case did a man who was found |
negative either develop the disease or |
transmit it. NJ
Showing how the disease may be |
transmitted, the case of Sapper B
may be cited. He came back from |
France in April, 1916, complaining of |
headache and pains in his back and |
legs. Two days later one of his chill |
dren was taken ill and removed with |
symptoms of the disease. The next |
day another child was removed to |
an isolation hospital where it died |
The father was found to be carrier
of type 2. His sister was sent to |
bring Home the first child. now re- |
covered, from the. hospital, and the |
latter died in "a hours. This child |
also harbored type g.
Out Of 33 military cases treated in |
the London district alone last season |
with serum prepared under the new
method only three died. The result |
is marked contrast to the 40 to so |
per cent mortality usually found be- |
fore this serum was available
The treatment of carriers is diff |
cult, but it has been found that in
halatiOn chambers charged with
chlOramine vaDor work will in most !
cases. Carriers can thus be freed of
meningococci in a short period. This