DISEASE IN BRITAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18653, 3 June 1932, Page 2

DISEASE IN BRITAIN.

MOKE MENINGITIS. OEREBROBPINAL FEVER EPIDEMIC. The British Ministry of Health has issued a report that reviews the present knowledge of cerebrospinal fe\et. “ During the past year there has been a definite increase of the disease in England and Wales. Though outbreaks described by Sydenham and c*thers were probably due to the disease, its recognition is usually attiibuted to Vieusseaux of Geneva, who described an outbreak in 1805. Danielson and Mason recorded one in Massachusetts in 1806. Many epidemics have been described since, chiefly in Europe and North America, military camps and barracks being particularly affected. “ Excepting small outbreaks in Loudon and Rochester in 1865 and in Bardnev in 186.7, England and Wales was comparatively free until the beginning of the present century. Limited outbreaks in country districts were followed in 1907 and 1908 by 1,238 cases in Glasgow, and 838 deaths, and at the same time 725 cases occurred in Belfast: In the years preceding the war the annual number of cases among civilians in England and Wales varied from 200 to 300. But In the war years of 1915-1917 the numbers were respectively 2,566, 1,306 and 1,465. Following demobilisation the numbers fell year by year, until the antebellum level was attained in 1923. A Gradual Increase. “ Since then there has been a gradual increase, which has also been observed in other countries of Europe. The increased prevalence among civilians during the war years coincided with the 4,238 cases and 1,928 deaths in the army at home in 1914-1918. in England cases occur alt the year round, but the greatest incidence is in the winter and spring. The heavier incidence in rural than in urban districts, described in the United Stales, liar/ not been observed. The majority of cases occur among children under live. “ The means of control consist first in compulsory notification and provision of means of bactcriologic diagnosis by the Ministry of Health. 11 isolation and the best available treatment cannot ue obtained at home, hospital treatment is to be as once offered. The closest and most accurate observations on the efficiency of the serums in use is considered desirable. As one hospital rarely has sufficient cases for investigation, the Ministry is collecting all the evidence as to the results of serum treatment, both as to methods of administration and as to the nature of the serum used. The cooperation of health officers, hospital medical officers and physicians is invited, and blanks for this purpose are supplied.