SLEEPING SICKNESS OR INFLUENZA?

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 220, 11 June 1919, Page 8

SLEEPING SICKNESS OR INFLUENZA?

AMERICAN INVESTIGATIONS

THE MYSTERY DISEASE

Differences in incdical opinion have, resulted from the appearance of cacephilitis lethai'gica, or "sleeping sickness," controversy over the nature of the is imminent (says the New York "Evening Post"). Some doctors express the bolief that tho malady is a form of influenza, whiloothors say that it is a new disease of unknown origin. Among 'those who hold to the former theory is Dr. T. L. Stedman, editor of the "Medical Record," who said, that there had beon many cases of the disease in New York, but that the death of H.W. Martin, of. Brooklyn, is tho first to reach, public attention. "Influenza does not always take the, same form or attack the "same organs of the body," Dr. Stedman said. "It may attack the lungs., the digestice organs, ov the brain. When it attacks the brain it produces an inflammation which usually results fatally. It is incorrectly called 'sleeping sickness,' and therefore may be confused with tho disease caused by the bile of the tsetse fly. It dors produce a comatose condition, and resembles sleeping sickness, but it has an entirely different cause."

Asked if be believed there were danger of the disease becoming epidemic. Dr. Stednufh said that ho did not. but mialified/his opinion by Eaying there is no way of predicting the course of influenza. "There have been cases' of tho disease all winter," he added, "and it has not become epidemic so far." So far as the records of the New YorkHealth Department show there has never been a case of encephalitis lethnrgica_ or "sleeping sickness" in the city of New York, according to Dr. William H.'Ciuilfoy, registrar* of records, "There probably will be a good'deal of confusion resultin? from the use of the term 'sleeping sickness' in connection with this disease," Dr. Ciuilfoy said. : "and while tho exact nature of the disease has never been clearly defined, it is not the same as the true sleeping sickness caused by the bite of the tsetse, and which is almost entirely confined to tropical Africa. Last summer 180 cases, of what we call 'sleeping sickness' appeared in England, not, confined : to ono locality, but scattered over the country. There was a wide' difference of opinion among doctors there as to' the true nature' of the disease, and many believed thai: it was. a form of influenza. Another group held the opposite theory, and contended that it was' not. alciu to influenza, but was caused by an unknown agent which created an inflammation of the brain and induced the drowsiness which is ono of the early symptoms of'the disease. It hits "been generally conceded that the latter contention is' correct, for there was no particular connection between -tho 'sleeping, sickness' and influenza. On this account it is difficult to treat, because its nature is not well known."