In the literature on epidemic encephalitis there is little definite information to be found concerning the frequency of the occurrence of xanthochromic spinal fluid. In the investigation of the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases1 it is reported as extremely rare. Scully quotes Leschke2 as collecting 310 cases of yellow spinal fluid, of which two occurred in epidemic encephalitis while in the 339 cases that he himself collected from the literature none occurred in that disease.
In the year from Dec. 31, 1923, to Dec. 31, 1924, the spinal fluid of 1,279 patients was examined at the Boston Psychopathic Hospital; six cases showed xanthrochromia. Three of these occurred in cases of epidemic encephalitis. During that period thirty-two patients with epidemic encephalitis were admitted to the hospital, and thus for that year 9.38 per cent. of the cases of epidemic encephalitis showed xanthochromic spinal fluid. Because of