BELGIUM

Epidemic of Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis  In an address before the Société Belge de Neurologie, Van Bogaert recently discussed the symptoms which occurred in twenty-three patients with acute anterior poliomyelitis. The epidemic took place in the province of Antwerp in May, 1929.It centered chiefly at Willebroeck, where ten cases were reported. Three cases occurred in Lierre, and the remainder in Antwerp, four in the same neighborhood.The disease was of the spinal type, with baffling symptoms. After from three to four days of relatively low temperature, accompanied by digestive disturbances, incomplete paralysis and meningeal symptoms developed. Extensive hyperesthesia of the involved extremities became evident, but the effect on the general condition was comparatively slight. Misleading periods of apparent recovery followed with restoration of normal function for a day or two. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed an excess of albumin and a cell count of from 6 to 80 lymphocytes