Evening star., 1933-08-31
BY HUGH S. CUMMING,

BY HUGH S. CUMMING,
Surgeon General of the Public Health Service.
The Associated Press has asked me
for an article on epidemic encephalitis
the sleeping sickness" which in the
past month has resulted in So deaths,
388 cases, in ST. Louis.
My experience is that the press is
the most valuable adjunct of the Public
Health Service in meeting such cpl
denies. 1t gives the people information
for their protection. By promptly re-
porting the outbreak in other cities than
the one principally affected, it gives
our service information vital to its
studies. Therefore, I gladly comply.
Not since the poliomyelitis epidemic
in New York in 1916 has this service
been confronted with an epidemic in
such imperative need of immediate and
intensive study. To further it. l am
asking the Treasury Department today
for $4,000 of the $333.650 appropri-
ated by the last Congress for meeting
epidemic emergencies, to be spent by
authority of the President.
Fortunately, ST. Louis is great med
ical center, with a most competent
medical fraternity. and universities hav-
ing weu-equipped laboratories.
Carriers Are Unknown.
Epidemic encephalitis, or sleeping
sickness" is an Inflammation of the
brain itself, with a moderate involve
ment of the meninges, or coverings of
the spinal chord.
1t is one of the group known as virus
diseases the ultra microscopic germ
having thus far proven impossible of
isolation. Its carriers remain unknown.
1t usually starts with pasn in the
back of the neck and headache. Often
there are gastro-inteStinal symptoms
vomiting, diarrhea. or constipation. The
patient is apathetic, lying lmmoblle.
The temperature rises. Characteristic
is the facial mask"-no mobility or
expression in the facial muscles. Ac-
companying this condition often are
motor reflexes of elbow, knee, wrist, or
ankle, or tremors of arms or legs
continuous shaking. Irregular paralysis
may occur.
Postmotems show evidence of de-
structiun of the brain tissue, both OF
the gray and white matter of the cere-
brum, and of the cerebellum where the
motor reflexes center The motor re-
fleXes observed in the patient are evi-
dences of the brain irritation.
Studies show low incidence by per-
sonal contact In efforts to prevent
spread of the disease, therefore, we are
not trying any quarantine methods, but
we do emphatically urge isolation OF
the individual patient for three weeks.
Three things, 1 think. deserve the
heartiest commendation in the st. Louis
fight against sleeping sickness.
First, the excellent coordination OF
health authorities, county, city and
Federal Patients are promptly hos
pitalized. The three weeks isolation Is
being enforced.
Second the complete co-oparation of
the two universities, the ST Louis and
washington, in providing the necessary
facilities for laboratory studies.
Third. the noteworthy contribution
being made by the hospital authorities
by their treatment of symptoms as they
arise. and by their pathological work
in post mortemS.
Three Objects in View.
So far as the Public Health Service Of
the Federal Government is concerned,
VIC have. in addition to aiding the local
authorities. three main objects in view.
First, a detailed study of the epidem-
ioiogy of the disease-all conditions, all
factors, relating to its nature and its
origin This is the largest one-place
outbreak of encephalitiS the world has
vet known. giving science opportunity
for an intensive study OF httle-knoWn
disease.
Second. research work on the nature
of the disease itself-to get it, if pos
sible, into animals. monkeys, guinea
pigs rabbits, or rats, permitting con-
tinued studies with view to eventual
solution and check.
Third, study of its possible trans
mission by insects.
We now have in st. Louis. DR.. j. P.
Ieeke studying the epidemiology; DR..
Charles Armstrong conducting the
laboratory experiments on animals, and
DR. L. L. Williams, jr., making the in
sect study.
Within a week we will have four
other officers working on epidemiology,
an6 one or two others on entomology,
or insect study.
I hope we may be able to find out
something, both as to the cause and
to the remedy, as result of this work.
(Copyright 1881
Oscar Bradley Stricken.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, August 81 P).-
Oscar Bradley, New York musical di-
rector of the Municipal Opera here, is
suffering from sleeping sickness" in
Jewish Hospital,
He became suddenly i'll while direct
ing the orchestra during the final per-
formance of THE Desert Song" Sun
day evening Since his removal to the
hospital he has been in semi
Two Deaths in Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, August 81 P)-Two
deaths due to sleeping sickness were re-
ported in Wisconsin yesterday. Dolores
Wirtz, % months old, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. John Wirtz, died at Racine.
Mrs. Howard Jarvis, 49, died at Ashland.
20 Deaths in Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, August 81 R.-
The State Health Department an
nounced yesterday that 20 of % cases
OF sleeping sickness" reported in
Minnesota since January had resulted
in death. There are four cases at
present.
Boy, Is, Succumbs-
LITCHFIELD, Ill., August 81 LP). -
Walter Bowker, Is, of Medora died at
his home last night from sleeping sick
ness Four other cases are reported in
Macoupin County.