“SLEEPY SICKNESS.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 October 1924, Page 3

“SLEEPY SICKNESS.”

A DISEASE, WHICH MATTEL CRIMINALS. (By the Medical Correspondent of the London Times.) Some, interesting light is thrown on the after-effect of encephalitis lejbhargica (“sleepy sickness”) by Dr. Charles Glen, writing in the annual report o-f the Metropolitan Asylums Board for 1923. Dr. Glen, who is assistant medical officer of the Da re nth Training Colony, prefaces liis remarks by the statement:— “Since intellectual defect was not, at the dates of . their reception, an outstanding feature of the patients whose cases are described herein, it- may be explained that it .was their obvious need of care, supervision,, and control which brought them within the category of ‘the feeble minded.’” The cases, all of. which had suffered from “sleepy sickness” and apparently recovered from it, exhibited in the first instance a remarkable lack of control over their emotions. _ Later, the -state known as Parkinsonism developed in some of them—they became listless, the victims of muscular twitchings and spasms and exceedingly weak. The emotional state clearly possesses very great medico-legal interest. The followmg are extracts- from Dr. Glen’s paper: “In a ward of some 60 girls she immediately became the most conspicuous figure amongst them by reason of her extraordinary behaviour. . Impulsiveness was always the characteristic feature. Her emotional displays always ran to extremes. She was prone to lavish unrequited affection and, when reprimanded m any way, would fly into paroxysm of rage at being rebuffed, and never hesitated to> use violence towards the object of her displeasure. . . The latter state of this girl is thus described:—

lhe girl became daily more helpless, requiring to have everything done u er ‘ -When placed in any position she would remain so for hours, never making the slightest effort to change her posture. . . . While there is still no evidence of . defective intelligence, her cerebration has become appreciably slower. Physically she has deteriorated to a surprising extent ” Another girl is described as follows “Even in the adult section she was frequently troublesome, quarrelsome, cind liable to attack patients and even nurses without the slightest provocation. _ These violent outbursts were irregularly periodic, and came on without the slightest warning. In the intervals she; was docile, cheerful and good-natured, eager and willing to assist in the care and management of the ward.’’

This girl is now the victim of Parkinsonism, the left side of -her body being specially involved. h The case of a boy is thus described:— He was no respecter of persons, was su “fy, would do nothing he was told until - such, time as it suited himself, was nasty and spiteful towards his youim sister, extremely irritable, terribly nervous at night ... he became addicted to wandering away for miles ■from: time to time. She (his mother) would receive complaints about- him from neighbouring people, his schoolmaster, or the police, . . Another hoy became a thief after his attack of sleepy sickness:— “During the next few years be was a never-ending source of worry to his parents. Whenever he strayed away from home all sorts of complaints of theft were lodged with the parents against the boy. He was often brought before the police m various districts. When admitted to Darenth he was found to he ‘an intelligent, quiet, and serious lad of a rather sensitive and emotional disposition, l hut an opportunity has presented' itself he has manifested uncontrollable impulses for thieving.’” This lad is paralysed on the right side, and shows already other sighs of physical deterioration. Dr. Glen, re,Jlarbs that such cases illustrate “sonie of the devastating sequelae which may follow even mild attacks” of sleep? sickness. H© adds:—

It seems that the disease may pass through a phase in which physical changes are the only prominent feature, so that crimes may be- committed' for which the offender is not fully responsible, although he -may appear, as regards intelligence, quite capable of exerciscmg control over his actions!” The fact that some 4000 cases of the disease have been notified in England 3.11 a W ales since of "the present/ year adds great, significance to these findings.