The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-04-10
ABOUT SLEEPING SICKNESS.
State Health Office Gives Some Inter-
esting Information.

the State health Omcer announces
the appearance in South Carolina OF
"sleeping sickness" Technically, the
disease is which, freely, defined
means Inflammation of the brain as
sociated with drowsiness or stupor.
AS a recognized disease 1t is new
in South Carolina, and indeed
throughout the United States. THIS
fact together with the lack of exact
knowledge as to its cause and treat
ment surrounds it with an aura OF
dread and apprehension.
Clinically it has been carefully de-
: scribed and its outstanding charac-
teristics render it more or less easy
of recognition. The purpose of this
discussion is to provide the public
with authoritative information so
that clear cut cases may be recogniz-
ed and reported and to prevent undue
and unnecessary concern in the in
stance of cases of illness which are
clinically unrelated.
Recognized authorities agree that
lethargic encephalitis is an acute,
epidemic affection, due to special
virus or body poison which attacks
specifically the nervous system. 1t
is q general infectious disease, the
SYMPTOMS of which originate in the
brain tissue and is characterized by
stupor or mental dullness and desire
for sleep. certain localized paralyses
and fever.
That the disease is epidemic is
evidenced by the appearance of
number of cases in given locality
(England, Italy. Hungary To what
extent the population of communi-
ty is susceptible and to what degree
the poison Of the disease is infectious
can not be estimated at this time.
That it does not spread rapidly nor
does it attack large number OF the
population at one time is we'll estab-
lished in the government report OF
the epidemic in England in 1918. If
it is caused by specific virus it is
reasonable to suppose that it may
be spread as a result of contact be-
tween persons so infected and other
healthy but susceptible individuals.
For this reason the individual must
assume every precaution and avoid
all unnecessary intercourse with per-
sons suffering with disease condi-
ton characterized by stupor but the
public mind should not give way to
unrestrained apprehension on the
score that a new and mysterious
plague is about to sweep the State.
&. Case histories have not establish
edsa conclusive connection or rela-
tionship between epidemic coma
and influenza. A number of persons
who had influenza have subsequently
oeveloped the disease but it is illogi-
cal to attribute every abnormal ply
sical manifestation to the much ma
Hgned influenza. Certain of the
quarter-million people in South Car
olina who had influenza between Sep
tember and February have since suf-
fered broken bones and others have
been in automobile wrecks. Influen-
"a has not been cited as a contribute
ry factor. To date only four cases of
Sleeping sickness" have been report
ed
Following is report of case
which gave no history OF influenza
or of any other disease in recent
years:
AT the request of prominent ply
sician in Latta, S. c., suspected
case was investigated on March IS,
1919.
The patient, woman 5S years of
age, first complained on Wednesday,
March -, that she felt stupid and
drowsy anG her eyes burned Dur
ing this and the following day her
desire for sleep increased and bodily
weakness was prominent symptom.
On the third day of her illness she
was compelled to take to her bed and
subsequently, her condition has be-
come progressively worse. When
first seen by her physician her tenn
perature was slightly elevated and
each day has been higher.
On Tuesday, March 1S, 1919, this
case was seen by the State health Of
ficer and the writer. The following
was observed:
The patient, with features drawn
and expressionless, lay fully extend
ed and as motionless as if in deep
sleep. The slow, noisy respiration
made the picture of sleep more real.
Persistent questioning ELECTED CO.