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Encephalitis Letliargica.
Three cases of this disease were notified in Chelsea in 1920, namely :
male, 34 years ; male, 36 years ; female, 50 years. Two of the cases
were removed to hospital. The female made a complete recovery. One
of the males made a fairly good recovery ; but the other, after the lapse
of a year, is still suffering from some paresis of the lower limbs and tremors
of one hand.
In London in 1920, 113 cases of this disease were notified, as against
63 in 1919. There were cases in every metropolitan Borough, except
Finsbury and the City. The largest number of cases occurred in Wandsworth
(13), Stepney (11), and Battersea (9). Fifty-five of the cases
were males, and 58 females. The ages were :—under 15, 28 cases;
15-45, 73 cases; over 45, 12 cases. The deaths were 29: males, 14;
females, 15; which gives a mortality rate of 26 per cent.; but it is
probable that other deaths occurred after the notifications were received.
The latest return from the Ministry of Health shows that about half,
54 per cent., of the undoubted cases of encephalitis lethargica have a
fatal ending, and the illness may be very prolonged before death occurs.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.
Only one case of this disease was notified in Chelsea in 1920. The
patient, a girl of 17 years, was removed to hospital, and died there ten
days after admission, but the P.M. examination showed that the disease