“Sleeping Sickness" in Manchester.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1921, Page 4

“Sleeping Sickness " in Manchester.

THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE

AN UNTRACKEI) MICROBE.

Three deaths from what is now popularly known as “sleeping sickness” were reported in England within a few days at the beginning of February, two in Lancashire and one in Kent.. So far, the connection with the African disease also known as sleeping sickness lias not been proved, and medical men are doubtful whether the disease is new or a variation of an existing disease. Sixteen cases were reported in Manchester during January, and whilst the general mortality throughout the country is about 20 per cent of the cases notified, the mortality in Manchester was higher. The disease appears to be widely scattered throughout England, and first attracted the serious attention of the medical profession about two years ago. From the investigations already made the disease does not appear to be peculiar to any particular age, person, or class. The Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Medical Research Council, is making special inquiries on the subject. To the piesent the microbe has not been discovered.

The scientific name given to the attack or the disease,” said an eminent medical authority to a representative of the “Manchester Guardlap,” “is Encephalitis lethargica. The first word might roughly he put into English as inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord, or perhaps more generally, the attack might be described as . a form of inflammation of the brain, although these are only approximate descriptions. The disease affects important centres of the brain a»d is characterised in many cases by gradually increasing lethargy, a mask-like appearance of the countenance, and by great weakness in the muscular system. It is a difficult disease to diagnose, for in many instances it shades off into Poliomyelitis, ordinarily known as infantine paralysis. There is no evidence of direct infection from one person to another. From the way it occurs, it looks as if it were an infectious condition, and there has been a tendency in some quarters to look upon it as a modification of Poliomyelitis. “The disease begins in various ways, sometimes by the victim feeling heavy |or lazy and disinclined for exercise. This feeling goes on increasing, and the patient takes to bed, and lies on the hack without any inclination to move. The disease takes a variable course and may last some months before complete recovery takes place. Sometimes the attack begins with a cold developing into a fever, and sometimes it begins with acute pains. In the case of a fatal end, death usually occurs in two to four weeks.” A description of the symptoms attending one Lancashire case—a middleaged woman —showed that the patient, who had been in good health, felt taint, and giddy whilst doing house work. She went to lied and fell asleep. During the following week she complained ol headache and lassitude, a vague feeling of pain in the limbs and body, and increasing drowsiness, so that at times she could hardly keep awake. For about a week she kept at work. Ten j days after the first attack she became 1 suddenly worse and noticed twitching pains in her right side, arms, and legs. On examination the next day she was found to he very sleepy, hut could be easily roused and gave a rational account of her illness. For about a fortnight tho twitchings of the limbs went on with increasing sleepiness; she then became comatose; broncho-pneumonia developed, and she died four weeks from the beginning of the illness. At no time was there any delirium or pains.