In view of he prevalence of cerebrospinal meningitis in Shanghai, the following brief account of the disease and of certain elementary precautions garding its prevention is circulated by the Public Health Department of the S.M.C. for general information.
The cause of the disease is a germ which gains entrance to the body through the lining of the throat and nose, Children and young adults particularly susceptible. The symptoms are fever, headache, vomiting and later pain and stiffness of the muscles of the back of the neck, Anyone developing such symptoms should retire to bed at once and call a doctor, The germ is spread by talking, coughing and sneezing, The disease is particularly dangerous in that a certain percentage of the population may harbour the germ in the throat and nasal passages and, though suffering no inconvenience from its presence themselves, pass on to others a virulent and possibly fatal infection.
To minimise the risk of infection: persons suffering from coughs and colds; Avoid, crowds and proximity to places where infection has already occurred should be visited only if absolutely necessary.
2. Attention should be paid to the ventilation of living and sleeping rooms; hot dry atmosphere is just as dange Ous as à cold and droughty one. Beds should be spaced as widely apart asd possible.
3. Regular sleep and avoidance of undue fatigue are important considerations,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.