Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
societyNov 11, 202537:43pending

Encephalitis Lethargica

Unresolved

About this episode

"No fiction author would have had the temerity to invent a disorder of such incredible clinical diversity and puzzling behavior."

In the winter of 1916-1917, as World War I raged, physicians in Europe began noticing bizarre cases of brain illness. Thousands arrived at hospitals with high fevers, headaches, confusion, and a host of other factors - suspected at first to be meningitis or even poisoning - yet none of the explanations fit. What all of these patients shared was either an overwhelming drowsiness or psychotic agitation.

By late 1918, as the great influenza pandemic struck, this new "sleeping sickness" had spread across Europe and Beyond. Earlier that year, outbreaks were noted in England and the first American case was reported in September. By 1919, enough cases had surfaced worldwide that health officials realized they faced an epidemic of a baffling new illness...



Research & writing by Micheal Whelan and Amelia White

Hosting & production by Micheal Whelan

Learn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.me

If you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or Producer

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved-a-true-crime-mystery-podcast--3266604/support.

Get every episode summarized

Each time Unresolved publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

Encephalitis Lethargica

Unresolved

0:00
37:43

More episodes

More from Unresolved

View all episodes →