The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-02-21
MEASURES TO PREVENT MENIr.
GIFTS
,couunusd from Page onel


occurs. so far as we now know. only
in human beings and prevails cs-
pccially in the fall and winter
months. dying out with the approach
Of warm weather There are other
forms Of meningitis" caused by
other germs" or bacteria. but true
cerebrospinal fever is always a
specific infectious disease. This
disease occurs an the same months
~ the year in which pneumonia,
measles. scarlet fever, dphtheri1
and a few other diseases in which
the principal mode Of infection Is
believed 10 be through the respi-
ratory tract
Children and young folks are
chiefly affected by this disease and
they are probably more suscep-
tible. The germ" probably enters
the body through the nose or
mouth and it has been found in the
nasal cavity Of persons having the
disease. II is believed that IL leaves
the body mainly with the discharges
from the throat and mouth. probab-
Is also in the fine spray that -
produced in coughing or sneezing
or even talking or laughing.
Healthy Carriers"
II Is known now that the menin-
gifts germ may be found in the nose
81 apparently healthy individuals,
called carriers who have probab-
IL come in contact with other
carriers or with actual cases NJ the
disease. In this way the infection
J. spread from person TO person.
until II reaches someone that l.
susceptible or whose resistance L.
lowered by previous sickness or
improper living or diet and then
that person develops the disease.
The majority Of these carriers
never develop the disease them
P selves. but they must be considered
dangerous 90 others as long as the
germ lives in their nose or throat
I n is probably not possible by ordi-
nary methods Of examinations OF
large numbers Of persons To find all
these carriers. So that II must be
remembered that anyone coming
I IN contact with a. true case Of the
disease. or even with carriers, may
become a carrier. and thus spread
7 the disease.
There are also mild cases Of
meningitis that never feel sick
enough to consult physician.
These are called unrecOgniZed cases
and are really more dangerous than
: the known cases or carriers For
this reason. at the time OF an cpl
I demic. il is very important IN watch
carefully for all suspicious symp-
toms Of the disease and when in any
Doubt, call in the family physician
or the health officer
These mild cases and those that
become carriers" are undoubtedly
mainly responsible for spreading the
disease because the danger 81
spread from those sick in bed is
more limited.
symptoms of Meningitis
The number Of days from the time
person catches" the disease
until the symptoms develop. is not
known. During an epidemic. the
symptoms described below should
always be looked upon with suspi-
cion and when any Of them develop.
consult a physician Immediately,
otherwise much valuable time may
be- lost. All minor ailments, that
usually with headache and violent
should be carefully watched, re-
mcmbering that it is the mild cases
Of the disease that often escape at
tention.
I'm the ordinary form Of menin-
gifts. the onset is usually sudden,
usually with headache and violent
vomiting. often with a severe chill.
"Spasms" are frequent in infants
hut remember that spasms occur
also with many other forms Of ill
ness in infants and very young
children. Loss Of appetite for a
number Of days with vauge head
aches and pain in the back NAV
be early symptoms. There may be
stiffness in the neck muscles early.
After the onset, there is usually
fever with temperatures Of 100
degrees or more.
II is important TO remember that
the symptoms may vary widely IA
different cases but headache, pain
or stiffness in the neck muscles,
vomiting, chills, and in infants, con-
vulsions, must be looked upon with
suspicion during an epidemic Of
this disease.
II any such symptoms occur, the