LETHARGIC ENCEPHALITIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 May 1919, Page 6

LETHARGIC ENCEPHALITIS.

The identification of lethargic encephalitis, cases of which have occurred in Auckland, was made as a result of investigations conducted by the Medical Research Committee of the British Local Government Board. The inquiry was commenced during the epidemic last year, the first suggestion being that the disease was botulism, duo to infection thorn food_ The first step towards elucidation of the mystery was registered when Dr. Mclntosh, of the. London Hospital, announced that he fallcU to find the bacillus botulinus either in the bodies of the victims of the disease or in the specimens of foodstuffs submitted to him. His opinion that the disease was due to a germ and not to food-poison-ing was confirmed when Drs. Hancock and Pearse showed that there was no instance of more than one case occurring in a houschbld, that many

of the patients had eaten no suspicious food, and that almost invariably the food eaten had been shared by others who did not develop the disease. Indeed, in two cases infants exclusively breast-fed were attacked. It was now suggested that the disease was very closely akin to infantile paralysis. This view had the support |of Sir William Osier, but other authorities. notably Professor, Nctter in France, and Dr. von Economo in Austria —where the disease had also

broken out—refused to accept it, and regarded the condition as a new dis-

ease. Experiments wore carried Out to tost the point. Dr. Mclntosh and Professor Marinesco, of Bucharest, the well-known neurologist, whose services wore secured, arrived independently at the conclusion that the new disease, encephalitis lethargica, was identical with a disease described in France and Austria, and differed from infantile paralysis and all other conditions Dr. James, conducting an epidemiological inquiry, arrived at the same conclusion. No germ has yet been found. But now ‘lie medical authorities arc on the alert, and will know what they are dealing with if other cases crop up. Sir Arthur Nowsh"‘,lmc has taken the. step of making the disease compulsorily, notifiable for one year throughout England and Wales, He will thus he early advised of any recurrence.