A DREADED DISEASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 30 January 1907, Page 3

A DREADED DISEASE.

CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS. GREAT ALARM IX BELFAST. Received 29th, 10.13 p.m. London, January 2!>. •Seventy-two cases of cerebrospinal meningitis have occurred at Belfast. Great alarm has been occasioned. [The news that cerebrospinal men ingitis has broken out in Belfast is au alarming sign of the recurrent character of this dread disease. It occurs in epidemics every now and again—generally in the spring or winter —and is usually attended with very high mortality. It is apt to break out in very large centres, and has commonly made its appearance in garrison towns. The disease is a form of inllammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It has two main forms, the malignant, which is rapidly fatal—sometimes after a few irours—and the ordinary, which is sometime:-) recovered from. It has been ascertained to lie due to a microbe, and this microbe lias been isolated. Cerebrospinal meningitis, though occurring in 'epidemics, is probably not conlag ions, being conveyed in some way as yet unknown. Persons attacked by the disease are very speedily prostrat od: they have a nigh fever, and quickly lose consciousness in severe cases. It is more apt to attack children than adults.