Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1919-04-02
"SI!EiGPEvG SICKNESS"
p, STRIKING DOWN YOUNG
AND OLD OVER NATION


: AND OLD OVER NATION
Chicago, March 1S.-Here in Cook
co hospital five perhons lie suspend
ed at the brink of death. Some of
them had been in a state Of coma for
days. Doctors and nurses could do lit
tie but shake the patients out Of a
trance-like stuDor and administer med
icines and liquid food. neither of
which patienth seemed to know they
were taking.
They were victims Of lethargic en-
ccphalitis, the new disease which has
appeared in widely scattered portions
of the United States first in Chicago.
where now hundreds of physicians are
! watching every i'll person for signs of
what has been called "sleep- DEATH"
Dr.. John Dill Robertson, Chicago
! health commissioner. has begun 4 sys
, tematic campaign to find out what
causes the new disease and how best
it my be treated.
Most Patients Have Recovered.
Two deaths. both children, have
been reported here. Other patients
have recovered, some after remaining
in a stupor for days.
Encephalitis attacks both young
and old, negro and white, rich and
poor the we'll nourished nd the under
fed alike into the sleep which isn't
sleep.
1t is slightly contagious, some doc
tors insist, while others say there is
no danger Of contagion.
Five persons were in that death-like
stupor at the Cook-co hospital, and
the physician permitted photograph
er take q picture of one woman pa(
tient with her relatives lonsent, be-
cause us he said it might help to find
the solution of tIfe cure. He
thought everybody ought to learn a
bout thih new disease, so they might
not be unduly frightened if it should
strike within their own homes,
FACE OF AFFLICTED IS W.tX-LIKE
The enceplralatis patient Rad been
in a sthpor several days. She lay still
as death. her breathing scarcely per-
cepti5Ie. Her face was wax-likc. I
have f1een faces from which life had
fled, and I was reminded OF them as
I watched the nurse waken the patient
from her stupor to give medicine.
For several inmates sire shook tae
sleeper talking to her'the while. Size
did not answer.
Finally her eyes opened but she
said not word. A sWitching muscle
was noticeable. That ended when the /
nurse allowed the sick woman to lay
back her head upon the. pillow and re
sumo her sleep
Medicine given her the doctor in
formed me was bitter bot the patient
allowed it to trickle down her throat
as she would frave so much ta3Iefess
water. fC was the same with food, |
the nurse explained; eviaently the
taste nerves are siIenced. |
Follows Some Influenza Cases.
siShe had Influenza last fall theI
doctor said This followed
what Is tli@ rev disease" doctor
I asked.
Go and see Dr: Peter Bassoe,' he !
Or; Bassoe knows more
about. it tran eny other American
physician. He has written a book on
nervous and mental diseases in wflcfr
this new disease is exactly Defined"
DR.. Bahs0e is professor Of nervous
and mental diseases ut Rush MedrcHF
College.
Dia "tDscd Is. Icnrc Ncrrorfs Disease
'i1rcephalTus. Dr. Bashoe etold me,
is ar acute nervous disease. Ia af-i
fccts both sexes afT ages and c"fors-
it is NOT contagious. and is noI always
fatal. Most cases recover. The i'll
ness may last Il few days, and mstan-
ces ore Known where pat.cntS were, IN
Il st1tpur for TWO nr"nths.''
.Dont' mistake it for the so-c'til"d
ssleCp1ir9 sickness" Of Africa. 1t is
not caused Hy. tire bite OF the rSers"
fly. There IS 4 world "f difference.
"Ehceplf1ljtis follows intluenH"~ IT
is e winter and spring disease and
will probably affect one N ten IrouS
TjoI iDtfiIpnZ:r T