DISCOVERY IN AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17579, 24 May 1919, Page 5

DISCOVERY IN AUCKLAND.

Dr. C. B. Rossiter. honorary visiting physician to the Auckland Hospital, who was the first to recognise this disease, so far as can be gathered, in New Zealand, had his attention drawn to it by the appearance two or three weeks ago in his

wards at the hospital of several cases presenting very curious and anomalous symptoms, the most prominent beine intense drowsiness, general debility, and double vision. Fortunately when he was stationed at No. 2 General Hospital, at Waltonon Thames, an epidemic of this now disease was rife in London, and tho similarity- in the symptoms in his case at the Auckland Hospital and encephalitis lethargica as reported in the Press at Home at once occurred to him. Further investigation seemed to place the matter beyond reasonable doubt. Tbe cases which have come under his notice vary from mild to very severe form, two out of the six that have occurred so far having proved fatal. He considers it quite possible, owing to the unusual character of the symptoms, that other cases have occurred in the district without having been diagnosed. The disease is not, he states, the tropical diseases known as sleeping sickness.