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42
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
A circular letter of the Local Government Board, dated 24th August, 1905,
dealing with this disease, was referred to your Medical Officer of Health by
the Sanitary Committee for consideration and report.
The letter stated that the Board "have reason to believe that the fact that
"Cerebro-spinal Fever has been recently somewhat extensively prevalent in
"Central Europe and in America has given rise to a doubt, in some quarters,
"whether the disease in question may not have newly extended to or have
"been developing in this country. The Board think it desirable, therefore,
"to state that, so far as they have been able to ascertain, there is no ground
"for such apprehension Nevertheless, they consider that
"Sanitary Authorities should be on the alert to detect the presence of the
"disease in their districts, or to satisfy themselves as to its absence, and to
"this end have issued a Memorandum which has been prepared by their
"Medical Officer, dealing generally with the characteristic symptoms of the
"disease, and especially with its minor and anomalous manifestations."
The Board having suggested that there would be advantage in the local
Medical Officer of Health endeavouring to secure, by arrangement with the
medical men practising in his district, information as to the existence of cases
of the kind in question, copies of the Memorandum referred to were
forwarded to all practitioners in the City of London, with the following
covering letter:—
"Corporation of London,
"Guildhall, E.C.,
"11th November, 1905.
"Dear Sir,
"Cerebro - Spinal Fever.
"I beg to enclose copy of a Memorandum issued by the Local Government
"Board, pointing out the characteristic symptoms and the minor and anomalous
"manifestations of the above disease.
"As an aid to diagnosis, should a suspected case occur in your practice, if you
"will communicate with me, I will arrange for an examination of the cerebro"spinal
fluid for the diplococcus of Weichselbaum, by the Corporation Bacteriologist,
"should you so desire it.
"Yours faithfully,
"W. COLLINGRIDGE,
"Medical Officer of Health for the City of London."
MEMORANDUM ON CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
Cerebro-spinal fever, known also as epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, spotted
fever, and by many other less frequently used names, has recently attracted
renewed attention in this country by reason of the serious mortality occasioned by
disease of this class in New York and in certain localities on the Continent of