New-York tribune., 1919-03-17
Public Need Not Be Alarmed
Over Possible Epidemic
Here, Is His Assurance
No New Cases Reported
Disease Attracts Medical
Men as. a Mystery; All
Patients Are Improving

No additional deaths from the mys-
terious epidemic coma" occurred in
this city yesterday. Neither were any
new cases of the malady reported to
the authorities. According to Health
Commissioner Royal S. Copeland, it is
extremely unlike that any more will be-
"At least" he said, "if any more do
occur it will be in isolated, scattered
instances"
Dr. Copeland strongly deprecated the
application of the word epidemic" to
the present sudden appearance of this
disease in New York.
"To say that an epidemic exists
where only forty people have been
stricken out of population of $780,
600 would seem to be exaggeration," he
said. "The public need not become
alarmed over the present situation, or
get the idea that any general danger
exists. Such is emphatically not the
case"
The extreme interest of medical men
In the disease, DR.. Copeland said, is
due not to any belief that the commu-
nifty at large is menaced, but to the
complete novelty of the diseases ap-
pearance in this part of the world.
"The American Medical Journal" in
its Issue of Saturday discussed the
matter at length under the title of
"Epidemics Of Eucephalitis Lethar-
gica." DR.. Copeland referred to this
article in explaining the present situa-
tion in this city.
Disease Was Imported
"The eucephalitis lethargica cases we
now have" said he, "were for the most
part imported. The first recent ap-
pearance of the disease occurred in
Vienna in 1917. Early in 1918 there
we're outbreaks of it in both England
we have it here"
few months ago, Dr.. Copeland
said, several cases we're reported from
Chicago. More recently eight men
came down with the malady at Camp
Lee, Virginia.
Emphasizing again the distinction
between the present "epidemic coma"
cases and the cases Of so-called "sleep-
ing sickness" of South Africa, the
Health Commissioner declared that
there are three separate and individual
maladies. all Of which eliminate in a
state of coma or extreme letnargy.
One Of these lethargic complaints,
he continued, comes as an aftermath
of influenza. It's first symptom is an
inflammation Of brain tissues. OF the
cases now current in this city, DR..
Copeland estimated that about half are
of this variety.
Mystery of Modern Medicine
Experts both in England and
France have investigated this disease
extensively" said ne. "but as yet they
have found no clew to It's cause" In
England an attempt was made, follow
ing investigation of 168 cases, to
inoculate monkeys with the virus Of
the disease. Usually monkeys are ex-
tremely susceptible to all ailments
case.
though, the incubation failed. The
disease is one Of the mysteries of
modern medicine. But that is no
reason why the public should become
alarmed"
DR.. William T. Hornaday, comment
ing on the African sleeping sickness.
said that it was first discovered by
an Englishman in 1902. 1t was prin,
ccipally conducted through the tsetse
fly, he said, which lives on the bio
game of the Congo region. For this
reason, DR.. Hornaday declared.
British commission considered the nd
visibility of exterminating all bio
game In that section The project
however, was abandoned.
According to DR.. Hornaday, the NAL
ady has killed hundreds Of natives
along the banks of the Congo. and
the cause of its origin remains as
mysterious as that Of the "enidem;c
coma" which has now found It's wav
into New York. way
All patients now under observation
IN New York hospitals supposed ~
De suffering from this sickness were
reported 's to be resting comfortably