Evening star., 1934-11-16
NEW CAUSE FOUND
FOR ENCEPHA[|T|S.
Second Virus Is Isolated
by National Institute
of Health.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

stitute of Health have isolated sec
0nd virus of the deadly encephalitis,
popularity known as sleeping sick
ness"
A flterable organism was isolated at
the height of the great st. Louis epi-
demic two Summers ago which beyond
question caused the disease, but the
new one found here apparently pro-
duces the same disease and greatly
ccmplicates the problem of preparing
a vaccine or serum.
1t causes the characteristic sleep
ing sickness" reaction in rhesus and
cebus monkeys-the experimental ami
mails with which greatest success has
been attained-and in white mice and
guinea pigs: Rabbits are resistant to
it. 1t is distinct. the Public Health
Service doctors claim, in its animal
symptomology, pathology and immu-
nology from all the other virus strains
Of encephalitis yet isolated.
Two Diseases Suspected.
At the time of the St. Louis out
break an intensive study was con-
Quoted in an effort to determine
whether this disease existed in one or
more forms. Claims had been ad-
vanced that different epidemics, diff
fering markedly in severity and NOR
tality rates, were due to two different
diseases with symptoms superhclally
very similar. In any event, 1t was
known to be due to one or more OF
the mysterious filterable viruses re-
sponsible for a wide variety Of human
and animal diseases.
These supposedly are living organ
isms far too small to be visible under
the most powerful microscope, but
which can be strained through the
pores of a porcelain filter. They are
SO infinitely small that, according
to a recent calculation, one cubic
centimeter could contain about
10000, 900, 900 900 Of them and the
diameter of their bodies varies from
5 to 80 hundredth- -millionths of an
inch. They causes diseases as widely
apart as influenza and poliomyelitis.
Their specific characters can be
studied only through their effects in
animal experimentation.
Whole Problem Reopened.
Viruses were obtained from six
fatal st. Louis cases. These repre-
sented six encephalitis strains. All
were found closely alike in their
major characteristics and all were
neutralized by the sera from re-
covered cases. This threw grave
doubts on the hypothesis of two dis
tinct but specifically similar dis
eases. Discovery of the new virus
ts likely to reopen the whole question.
Naturalization tests now are being
, carried out by DR.. Charles Armstrong
of the staff of the National Institute
on over 600 human blood sera, chiefly
from recovered cases of encephalitis,
from various parts of the United
States to gain information as to the
distribution of the virus through the
country.
Despite the success in iSolating the
virus, encephalitis remains one OF
the most mysterious epidemic diseases
with which medicine is confronted.
knowledge of distribution OF the
virus and degree of immunity among
the population in general is of vital
importance in fighting future epi-
denies that may arise.
Poliomyelitis Progress Made.
Some progress is being made, ac-
cording to reports from the National
Institute of Health Laboratories, on
the two other nervous system infec-
tions which occur in epidemic form
meningitis and poliomyelitis, or in
fantile paralysis. Studies are being
continued by DR.. w. T. Harrison on
the possibility of producing active
poliomyelitis immunity in monkeys
by a chemical preparation of killed
virus emulsions. Thus far, results
have been somewhat discouraging in
efforts to produce an immunizing
preparation which might serve as a
basis for preventive work among hu-
man beings. Some degree of i'm
munity has been produced but not
sufficient to overbalance the severity
of the infection produced.
Studies of meningitis are being con-
tinued by Public Health Service bac-
teriologists along different line. The
characteristics of the meningococcus.
the causative agent Of this dreaded
disease, are fairly well known. Atten-
ton is being given to the poisons
produced by the organism. 1t has
been found that broth cultures Of
many strains produce poisonous prod
ucts which produce a highly fatal
meningitis in guinea pigs. A study
of the effect of various therapeutic
sera is under way.