SPOTTED FEVER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13861, 26 March 1907, Page 5

SPOTTED FEVER.

HEAVY DEATH RATE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 25. (Received March 25, at 9.35 p.m.) No le.is than 113 deaths from spotted fever have occurred out of 212 cases. Tho London Daily Telegraph of February. 6 slates:—"The mysterious disease of cerebrospinal meningitis is beginning in some o[ the cities of Scotland to occasion some alarm. Every week froeh cases are reported. The belief is tlint many more caws exist unsuspected, for spotted fever is not puf; on {ho notifiable list by a!l local authorities, or that of Edinburgh, for instance. Another difficulty is (he similarity of tho symptoms to "those of welldefined diseases. Glasgow, which a. few years ago gained notoriety in connection with 11 MirioiH epidemic of bubonic plague, has been conspicuous in the present outbreak. The commercial capital's shipping seems to make a happy hunting ground for strange dishes from all parts of the earlh. Spotted fover 'began lo manifest itself nearly a year ago in Glasgow to such a.n extent that the Town Council resolved to put it 011 the notifiable list. This mensura has made it possible to arrive at a fairly accurate cstimal'"ll of the number of ca.-cs. Since last April to Ihe end of December the total may lie taken to bo about. 200. This total includi 's en fes brought for treatment from outside districts to oily hospitals, thus becoming notifiable within the civic limits. Though the official action lias not been a year in force, it is believed that for eome years past there have been odd cases in different districts, lu a. recent week 20 deaths from tho complaint were recorded in Glasgow. The dise.ise is not notifiable in Edinburgh, but during last week three deaths were certified as being due to cerebrospinal meningitis, 'file rate of mortality in relation to the ascertained number of eases is a. factor in the gravity with which spotted fever is being regarded. .Tho rale is a. very high one. Two hundred and three occurred in Glasgow last year, and over 100 eases last month. lu 50 per cent, of the cases, said Dr Wright, u' loading Glasgow authority, Ihe patients were' under live years of age. In (lie ease of 30 per cent, the patients wero under 10 years of age, whilst in llu! ci-e of the remainder the age runs up lo 45 yeare and over. Tho illness lasts from 5 to 24 hours, arid frequently 48 hours. In some cases its duration is over several days, or perhaps weeks, but recovery, when it does take place, is usually protracted, lasting several months. It may he followed by deafness, mental weakness, paralysis, clc.