Report on cerebro-spinal fever in the Royal Navy (Aug. 1914-Aug. 1915) / by H.D. Rolleston.

Rolleston, Humphry Davy, Sir, 1862-1944

Date:: [1915?]

Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report on cerebro-spinal fever in the Royal Navy (Aug. 1914-Aug. 1915) / by H.D. Rolleston. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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neighbourhood of his house, and on March 11 his son was attacked with a rash and a temperature of 105° F. The fourth case was that of a man who, though nominally in the barracks, had been lent to the anti-aircraft guard in Weevil’s Yard, and had not been in the barracks for some months. He slept in a crowded and ill-ventilated room in Weevil’s Yard, and four days before the onset of cerebro-spinal fever returned from leave at Farnham, Surrey, where there were instances of cerebro-spinal fever among the troops. It is suggestive that there was very little influenza, catarrh, sore throat, or tonsillitis in the barracks. From January 1 to May 1 there were 27 cases of influenza, 63 of catarrh, 36 of tonsillitis, and 4 of sore throat. There was no overcrowding in the early part of this year. Out of 20 contacts 1 was found to be positive (Dudding). Isolated cases were sent into the Eoyal Naval Hospital, Haslar, from the “ Vernon,” the “Excellent,” and the “ Fisgard.” In none of these was the source of infection traced. The contacts were all negative. Eoyal Naval Barracks, Chatham. In the spring of 1914, two cases occurred (on March 2 and April 22) among the stokers in the “ Pembroke.” In August, 1914, the cubic space fell to 210 ft. per man. The first case of cerebro-spinal fever to occur during the War was a stoker in the “Pembroke,” on October 29, and the third, on January 15, was in the same ship ; the occurrence of cases in the “Pembroke” raises the possibility of a chronic carrier in that vessel, though the intervals are long. The second case arose on January 10, and the source of infection was not traced. The fourth case occurred on January 27 and was followed by 14 cases (9 in February) at short intervals up to March 17, so as to suggest infection from within the establishment, and more than half of these cases were traced to carriers, or to infection from previous cases. After this date 3 isolated cases occurred ; 1 in the “ Pembroke ” was not traced, the other 2 prob¬ ably contracted the disease outside, making 21 in all, with an average age of 26 years. Eleven of the 21 cases were in recruits, many of whom had recently joined; their average age was 21 years, and their duration of service twenty-four days (7 having less than twenty days’ service, and 1 as long as eighty-eight days). Five had been recently vaccinated, 2 had shortly before the onset received a blow on the head, and 2 others had recently had scarlet fever—factors which, by reducing resistance, would favour infection. Between February 1 and March 17 there were 5 cases among the engine-room artificers. One hundred and thirty of these men were then examined; 30 were found to have nasal or faucial catarrh, and from among these 3 carriers were isolated. The mess was then divided into two, so as to give more air space, and after this there were no more cases among the engine-room artificers. Ninety-two contacts were sent to the Eoyal Naval Hospital, Chatham, and 12 carriers were isolated. One of the carriers developed the disease while isolated and died. Of the 21 cases, 5 were definitely traced to healthy carriers by Deputy Surgeon-General C. J. Mansfield, M.V.O. All these 21 cases were transferred to the Eoyal Naval Hospital, Chatham, and 16 died, or 76 per cent. As the mortality rises with each decade up to 50, it might be assumed that this high mortality was due