A NEW DISEASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1919, Page 5

A NEW DISEASE.

MAKES ITS APPEARANCE IN T AUCKLAND. SEVERAL CASES REPORTED. Auckland, May 22. A new disease, shiefly affecting the brain, has made its appearance in Auckland, and several cases have occurred. The technical name of tiie new disease is lethargic encephalitis. The illness was present in England in epidemic form from February to June, 1918, and the suggestion made when the earliest cases were reported that they were examples of botulism was not borne out by bacteriological investigation. The epidemic in England never attained large proportions, and at present there is not a great deal of evidence available dealing with the disease. From England's experience, it is recognised to be an acute affection due to specific virus, which probably finds its way through the nose like anterior poliomyelitis, commonly known as infantile paralysis, and which, like it, has a special affinity for the nervous system. Professor Marmesco, of Bucharest, who more than ten years ago studied and described botulism, is of the opinion that the symptoms accompanying lethargic encephalitis present a striking resemblance to sleeping sickness. Lethargic encephalitis hif been described as a general infeetiaos disease characterised by manifestations originating in the general nervous system, of which the most frequent are progressive lethargy and stupor, Usually the first symptom is simple catarrhal conjunctivitis. In a smaller number of. cases among those i which occurred in England tonsilitis,; sore throat, and bronchial catarrh were j observed, but the most salient symptom was progressive lethargy. '• The patient generally becomes dazed 01' stupid,' is inclined to sleep a great deal, an<J is. drowsy by day. In marked cases the lethargy is accompanied by heaviness of the eyelids, pain in the eyes, and blurred vision. Headache is common, and giddiness is a characteristic early symptom. The patient may exhibit a highly emotional state, and symptoms which may be labelled hysterical. In other instances the mental depression is so great that melancholia might be suspected. The soverest cases lie like n log in bed, in a state of catalepsy. Delirium, usually nocturnal, is not uncommon. In some ruses the patient is lmable to make any voluntary movement on account of great muscular weakness. The patient may be indisposed to speak, and sometimes has great difficulty in articulating. Subsequently the symptoms of » general infectious nature become m®Bifest. In addition to muscular trouhteL there is distinct rigidity'in a considerable proportion of cases. During the tljpe of' the -upfdemic n England, amoM-ryPS cases,,