The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-18
SLEEPING SICKNESS
NOT PRESENT IN us.
Physicians Say There is no
Occasion for Public
Alarm.

Fairrnont physicians were talking
freely this morning about newspaper
reports and statements in the newspa.
pers regarding the so-called sleeping
sickness, and most of them declared
that it is wrong for the public to be
needlessly alarmed over the matter. 1t
was generally agreed that there is no
connection whatever between the dis.
ease that follows influenza, cases of
which are reported in many parts of
the country just now, and the sleeping
sickness.
Last weeks number OF the Journal
OF the American Medical Association
contained the following editorial ar.
ticle upon the new malady which is
believed to contain all that is known
about it up to the present
This unfamiliar disease, many cases
OF which were observed in England
and France early in 1918 and in vi
enna in the winter OF 1916-1917.
when Won Economo suggested tho
name "encephalitis letharglca," now
seems to be making its appearance in
various parts of the country. In the
recent discussion on influenza before
the Institute of Medicine of Chicago
Bassoc stated that during the last few
weeks he had seen several cases
wich were characterized by marked
drowsiness and paralysis of cranial
nerves, especially the ocular. and
which otherwise corresponded to the
clinical picture of lethargic encepha-
litis. and that he knew of similar OBJ
servations reported by other physi-
clans. Last week Pothier reported
the clinical details Of eight cases from
Camp Lee, Va, and Neal mentions
the occurrence of cases in New York.
In previous editorial discussions OF
} the European, especially the English,
reports on lethargic encephalitis ,es-
decial emphasis was placed on its
similarity to the cerebral and bulbar
forms of epidemic poliomyelitis, and
1t was suggested that further investi-
cation might show "the new disease
to be true epidemic poliomyelitis. In
the meantime, the report of an exten-
! sive collective investigation of lethar-
gic encephalitis (168 cases) has ap-
peared from which we learn that,
while nothing by way Of casual
agent has been demonstrated .intra-
cerebral inoculations of monkeys with
emulsions of diseased nervous tissue
failed completely to produce any re
suits. AS the monkey Is readily sus-
ceptible to such treatment with SINH
lar material from cases of epidemic
poliomyletis, the present indications
aer that the two diseases are sepa-
rate and distinct, and this conclusion
is borne out also by cerain clinical
and epidemiologic differences to
which attention has been called by
Meter in Paris, especially. It is note
worthy. however, that the anatomic
changes in the two diseases are Of the
same general nature, and MacNalty
ventures the suggestion that the rela.
tion between epidemic poliomyelitis
and lethargic encephalitis may be
comparable to that between typhoid
and paratyphoid fevers. The English
investigators consequently regard
lethargic encephalitis as due to an as
yet unknown virus which causes in.
fiammatory changes, especially peri.
vascular lnfiltrations, in the basal
ganglions, the upper part Of the pons
especially in the gray matter of the
] tContinued on page four.)