Morris tribune., 1909-09-25
STRANGE DISEASE.
Infantile Paralysis Causes Death
to Minnesota Children.

A number of cases of what is called
infantile paralysis are reported from
various parts of the country, says the
Sherburne Advance Standard. The
disease is not a very common one, al
though epidemics of large proper
tions have been kno wn. Vermont and
Massachusetts have been visited by
this disease.
Mortified, Mimi, had 80 cases this
summer; Winona, st. Paul and Min
neapolis reported a number of cases
which were fatal. A prominent
Minneapolis physician gave out the
following statement regarding the
disease:
"Infantile paralysis is disease of
early life, affecting certain parts of
the spinal chord, producing paralysis
of the arms or legs. 1t usually begins
with what the parents think is stomach
trouble. A day or two of fever, with
lack of appetite, deranged bowels,
nausea and general pains, is usually
followed by complete paralysis of
the legs or leg and arm. The
paralysis is usually complete by the
time it is discovered, and it comes
rather suddenly, being discovered
usually when the mother tries to get
the child up in the morning.
eft is rarely fatal. The fever ends
when the paralysis begins. Improve
ment usually takes place in the par
alyzed limbs, motion being regained
up to certain point, beyond which
recovery of motion is not to be ex-
pected. It is a germ disease. The
nature of the germ is unknown. 1t is
thought by some to be contagious, and
by others to be infectious. 1t is sup
posed to be due to germ which
spreads through dust, dirt and earth.
Nothing definite being known of the
nature of the germ, it is hard to say
how best to prevent the disease.
General cleanliness of children, simple
diet, the avoidance of uncooked fruit
and vegetables, and keeping children
from playing in the dirt are advised" 4"
Another physician advances the
theory that flies are carrying the dis
ease from deposits in the streets.
The University of Minnesoi is TAX
ing an active interest in the epidemic
in st. Paul, and the affected organs of
several of the children who have died
with the disease have been sent to the
university for exhaustive research.
Confronted by 81 cases of infantile
paralysis and rapidly increasing
epidemic throughout the suburban
parts of Winona, the city council con-
vened recently in extraordinary ses-
sion and ordered the streets of Wi
mona to be sprinkled day and night.
Members of the health department
and physicians of the city generally
agreed that the epidemic appears to
originate from the blown deposits of
horses on the dry streets. Twelve
years ago a sweeping epidemic of a
disease of almost the same diagnosis
affected horses of Winona and it has
appeared since. From this source,
it is believed, the infection of the city
has resulted. The board of health was
in constant communication with the
authorities of Eau Claire, Wis, where
an epidemic was suffered last year.
Eau Claire said that they had sprinkl-
ed the streets when confronted with
the epidemic, which included about
100 cases, but were not prepared to
say that the sprinkling stayed the
epidemic.
A peculiar phase of the disease is
that children, when recovering, put
their entire weight on one limb and
the affected limb gradually turns in,
leaving the child with club foot.