1022 SOCIÉTÉ DE BIOLOGIE 



and third years of war the proportion for an equal number is yet 

 smaller. 



Finally, it is useful to observe that compared to the meningitic mor- 

 bidity of the troops at the rear, it i s four times larger. 



Cerebro-spinal meningitis occurred in the army only in a sporadic 

 way afFecting a only few soldiers in large units, but it was irnpossible 

 to flnd any link between those attacks where there seemed to be so 

 little connection. However, several épisodes hâve taken the form of 

 an épidémie. In several centers of instruction where the men were 

 collected in crowded cantonments, where there was a lack of space, 

 I havebeen ableto observe several centers of infection, arisingsuddenly, 

 where from ti to 8 cases hâve broken oui in 48 hours, andeven extended 

 to near-by units in évident relation with the groups fint contami- 

 nated. 



In spite of thèse épisodes in sraall centers of infection, which as a 

 matter of fact subsided there and then, cerebro-spinal meningitis has 

 been very scarce in the army zone. 



The degree of préférence of ineningococci carriers. — Wliat is true of 

 cerebro-spinal meningitis is yet more so for the carriers of germs. 

 That is to say, in subjects where the meningococcus infection is revea- 

 led only by a rhino-pharyngitis which remains localized and v^here 

 the patlipgenic germ remains isolated without attacking other organs. 



In places where cerebro-spinal meningitis occurs one knows how, 

 around çvery seat of infection or even every case, many are simple 

 carriers of meningococci. Researches madè in military centers in lime 

 of peace, in schools, factories, and particulalry mines (Westphalia, 

 Silesia, etc.), show in certain cases i, 6, 8 times more carriers than cases 

 of meningitis. Moreover, one knows in certain cases the power of the 

 meningococcus diffusion. This is shown by the example of Selter whO', 

 in a cantonment of Bonn, made a systematic search after the arrivai of 

 a convalescent of cerebro-spinal meningitis; at the end of a few days 

 this one convalescent had given rise, as far as I can remember, to about 

 30 cases of meningococci carriers. 



The bacteriological tests made during the présent war in the zone of 

 the arm'y bave never revealed such facts. On the conlrary the scarcity 

 of such cases has been remarkable. In many cases around a case Of 

 meningitis therè hâve been observed only a few carriers ; and, in many 

 instances, the researches made bave remained négative, in spite of the 

 accuracy with which they were performed. Moreover, many cases hâve 

 occurred where reinforcements hâve been sent to the front coming from 

 a garrison in the interior where meningitis -had occurred rather inten- 

 sely. In those werè carriers of germs which were pointed out by the 

 doctor of the dépôt. During the journey, or on arrivai, under the 



