Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis Research Articles

MENINGOCOCCUS SEPTICEMIA WITH STERILE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID; IRIDOCYCLITIS; FLEXNER'S SERUM; RECOVERY

The specific relation of the diplococcus of Weichselbaum to epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis is established beyond question. Investigations of the last few years have aimed to solve the mystery as to the sources of infection and the route taken by the invading organism in reaching its objective point in the meninges of the brain and cord. The first light on these questions came from the discovery of Albrecht and Ghon1that organisms morphologically identical with theDiplococcus intracellulariscould be found in the nasal secretions of some of the patients. This observation was quickly followed by the proof that, while some of these organisms resembling the diplococcus of Weichselbaum belonged to other species, there was no doubt that the specific excitant of meningitis could be found in the nasal fossae of some of the patients and also of others who have not had the disease but had come

The Serum Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with a Report of Twenty-Two Cases

The Serum Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with a Report of Twenty-Two Cases

The Serum Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with a Report of Twenty-Two Cases

The Serum Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with a Report of Twenty-Two Cases

The Serum Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with a Report of Twenty-Two Cases

The Serum Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with a Report of Twenty-Two Cases

REPORT OF TEN CASES OF EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS TREATED WITH THE ANTIMENINGITIS SERUM.

On November 17, 1907, there was admitted to the Garfield Memorial Hospital a patient with epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, who died seven days later. The occurrence of this case led us to secure Flexner's antimeningitis serum and to use it in the series presented in this report.

THE SERUM TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS, BASED ON A SERIES OF FORTY CONSECUTIVE CASES.

This report is based on a series of forty consecutive cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis treated with Dr. Flexner's antimeningitis serum. All cases in which the Diplococcus intracellularis was found in the cerebrospinal fluid, without regard to the type of case or stage of disease, are included in the series. Sixteen cases occurred in the Children's Hospital in the service of Dr. Rotch, eight cases occurred in various other hospitals in cities and towns of Massachusetts, and sixteen cases occurred in private practice. CONDITIONS OF ADMINISTRATION. The antiserum was administered in all cases by injection into the cerebrospinal canal according to the technic recommended by Dr. Flexner and described in a previous publication. 1 As soon as a suspected case was reported to me, lumbar puncture was at once performed. If the cerebrospinal fluid obtained was cloudy, the antiserum was injected at once, without waiting for the bacteriologic examination of

Deafness Resulting from Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis

Deafness Resulting from Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis

SEROTHERAPY OF EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.

In the months of April, May and June, 1907, there were reported to the Health Officer of Akron 22 cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. The first case came down April 28, the most of them occurring in May and June. The last one was admitted to the hospital September 11, having first shown symptoms six days before. Four of the patients, strong, healthy young men, were employed at one of the local rubber factories. In no other instance could there be shown any possibility of communication by contact. In fact, a striking feature of the epidemic was the occurrence, at the same time, in widely separated districts of the city, of single cases. Twelve of the cases were treated at the Akron City Hospital. Of these, 3 of the patients died and 9 recovered, a mortality of 25 per cent. Of the cases outside, one patient recovered and 9 died,

PROPHYLAXIS IN EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.

Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis is a communicable disease. Its cause, theMeningococcus intracellularis, although first described by Weichselbaum twenty years ago, was not generally recognized as such until the bacteriologic work of recent epidemics had been reported on. Taking the epidemic of 1905 in the province of Upper Silesia in Germany as an example, described by Westenhoeffer,1we find that 3,102 persons were attacked and that 1,789 succumbed in this epidemic. During its course von Lingelsheim made over 3,000 tests at the bacteriologic station at Beuthen and found the meningococcus in the mucus taken from the nasopharynx in 93.8 per cent. of the patients. This coincides with the finding of Councilman, Mallory and Wright in American epidemics. Ninety per cent. of the patients were children under 15 years of age. In twenty-four healthy relatives of the patients Ostermann2found the meningococcus in the mucus taken from the nasopharynx seventeen

Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis: Dr. M. H. Gordon's Memorandum to the Local Government Board.

Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis: Dr. M. H. Gordon's Memorandum to the Local Government Board.

Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis; A Study of Its Etiology, Diagnosis and Epidemiology Based Chiefly upon the Cases Occurring in Worcester, Mass

Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis; A Study of Its Etiology, Diagnosis and Epidemiology Based Chiefly upon the Cases Occurring in Worcester, Mass

Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis; A Study of Its Etiology, Diagnosis and Epidemiology, Based Chiefly upon the Cases Occurring in Worcester, Mass

Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis; A Study of Its Etiology, Diagnosis and Epidemiology, Based Chiefly upon the Cases Occurring in Worcester, Mass

CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS IN NEW YORK CITY DURING 1904 AND 1905.

During the past forty years there have been four outbreaks of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in New York City. The first and, up to that of 1904 and 1905, the most severe epidemic was in 1872, when there were 782 deaths—a death rate of 8.70 per 10,000. In 1881 and 1893 the outbreaks were not so severe; the number of deaths were, respectively, 461 and 469, and the death rates 3.70 and 2.67. The latest epidemic, the severest in the history of the city, began in the early months of 1904 and continued through 1905. During 1904 there were 1,083 deaths and a death rate of 4.6; during 1905, 1,511 deaths and a death rate of 6.3. The winters of 1872, 1881, 1893 and 1904 were what are known as "hard winters;" being cold, with considerable snow. The disease has always been abnormally prevalent for a year or two after each

Comparative Studies of Diplococci Decolorized by Gram's Method, Obtained from the Spinal Fluid and from the Nares of Cases of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis

Comparative Studies of Diplococci Decolorized by Gram's Method, Obtained from the Spinal Fluid and from the Nares of Cases of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis

CEREBROSPINAL FEVER.EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.

Historical. Two diseases have especially excited the interest and baffled the researches of students of epidemiology and clinical medicine. One is influenza, the other epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. Influenza has occurred in world pandemics which have been succeeded for varying periods extending over years by recurrent epidemics and sporadic cases and finally by periods of apparent absence of the disease until the sudden recurrence of another great pandemic. The opportunities afforded by the outbreak which began in 1889 have resulted in the discovery of the pathogenic agent of influenza—the bacillus of Pfeiffer—in the recognition of the transmissible nature of the infection and of the existence of sporadic cases by which the disease has been maintained for an indefinite time. But the regions in which the organism has continued to exist and the efficient mechanism by which, after long periods of latency, it suddenly gives rise to its pandemic effects, have thus far eluded research.

Medicine and Religion — Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis — The Importance of Minimizing the Percussion Stroke in the Delimitation of Areas — Medical Notes

Editorial from The New England Journal of Medicine — Medicine and Religion — Treatment of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis — The Importance of Minimizing the Percussion Stroke in the Delimitation of Areas — Medical Notes

A Note on a Series of Cases of Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis

A Note on a Series of Cases of Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis

EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.

INTRODUCTION. The objects which led to the investigation of which this report is the outcome were: 1, to ascertain whether true epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis existed in the city of Chicago, and 2, to trace if possible its origin and the avenues by which it spread. In regard to the first of these objects, it was soon discovered that there was a greater prevalence of the disease than was generally supposed, and enough data were collected, which we hope are of sufficient interest to the general practitioner, to excuse the writer for encroaching on those particulars of the disease which, strictly speaking, do not perhaps belong to the territory of the sanitarian. Chicago has for a number of years fortunately escaped the ravages of a disease which has been in a constantly increasing number of instances prevalent throughout a large part of the country, particularly in its eastern portion. There is

EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.

<h3>INTRODUCTION.</h3> The objects which led to the investigation of which this report is the outcome were: 1, to ascertain whether true epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis existed in the city of Chicago, and 2, to trace if possible its origin and the avenues by which it spread. In regard to the first of these objects, it was soon discovered that there was a greater prevalence of the disease than was generally supposed, and enough data were collected, which we hope are of sufficient interest to the general practitioner, to excuse the writer for encroaching on those particulars of the disease which, strictly speaking, do not perhaps belong to the territory of the sanitarian. Chicago has for a number of years fortunately escaped the ravages of a disease which has been in a constantly increasing number of instances prevalent throughout a large part of the country, particularly in its eastern portion. There is

The Treatment of Epidemic Cerebro-spinal Meningitis with Corrosive Sublimate

The Treatment of Epidemic Cerebro-spinal Meningitis with Corrosive Sublimate