STRANGE MALADY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1922, Page 11

STRANGE MALADY.

ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGTCA. OBSERVATIONS IN ENGLAND. London, September 5. A comprehensive report concerning encephalitis lethargica, prepared by T)r. Allen C. Parsons, of the Ministry of Health, has been published. It includes an analysis of over 1250 reports on cases of this strange malady notified in England and Wales during 1919 and 1920, and is the fullest report yet issued bv any nation dealing with this new clinical concept. The disease was first reported from Vienna in the winter of 1910-17, but in this country the first cases appeared in the spring of 1918. Dr. W. Harris reported that in London he had met no fewer than seven cases within a fortnight. Tn Sheffield Dr. A. J. Hall drew attention to a series presenting somewhat remarkable features. Immediately medical men realis-ed that here was a new and strange disease. It was at first described as “sleeping sickness.” A thorough and prompt investigation by the Local Government Board, aided by other medical bodies in this country, proved that it had nothing whatever to do with sleeping sickness. The latest report gives an extended inquiry, founded largely on reports of the cases that have been notified since January 1. 19IQ. Tn 1919, 541 cases were notified; in 192 t), 890: and in 1921 this figure rose to 1470. There was a decline during the last winter. In the first six months of the year there were only 286 cases notified, compared with 1196 for the similar period last year. Sir George Newman, in his preface, states: “There is some reason to think, from evidence collected since 1920, that the disease generally is assuming a milder and less fatal form.” The disease has selected particularly persons following sedentary occupations. As regards age incidence, the period 10 to 20 years has proved to be the most susceptible. Housewives and school children between them contribute 38.8 per cent, of the cases in which the occupation has been recorded. The means by which the infection is carried remains obscure. It is suggested in the report that “housekeeping, which during the last few years has become a very difficult and disquieting occupation, is in itself’ a predisposing factor in the case of a disease such as encephalitis lethargica.”