The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-11-19
Infantile Paralysis: A Mena &c


all in all, infantile paralysis is suffi-
cinetly disastrous and melancholy to
give the medical profession anxious
consideration, as it should give the
public grave concern.
During the incubation period of this
disease (from the time of having in
cured the infection to the develop
ment of the paralysis the patient may
have prodromes, difficult to detect in
little chudren, who may not be able to
Indicate the nature of their suiferings;
such premonitions VIII be changed
disposition, restlessness and irritable
ity and perhaps, on the other hand,
apathy. The distinct invasion then
begins suddenly with high tempera-
ture and the symptoms of an acute in
lection; sweating; a pain in the back
and limbs; neckache and headache;
the child will not be able to sit up
and hold up it's head; in many cases
there are digestive disturbances; very
shortly there supervenes paralysis
(perhaps ushered in with delirium)
especially in the leg muscles. Or {
definite group of muscles may be in
volved or but oneeXtremity of tn,
trunk or the upper extremities. Per
manent paralysis usually affects the
legs; rarely the arms. Perhaps sucl
paralysis is preceded by muscula
twitchings, and sensitiveness when
handled. Other symptoms, such al
squint, will vary according to the par
or parts of the nervous system affect
ed; blood changes are marked in thi
disease. Infantile paralysis has beef
mistaken for meningitis and for rheu
matism.
Infection by Contact.
AS to the causation of infantile pi
ralysis:
Before 1907 physicians conclude
Though they could not quite prove it
that in perhaps two-thirds of the case
, infantile paralysis is infectious, tn
, remaining third being attributed
r such factors as falls, antecedent enc
] waiting diseases (such as measles an
the like), or hemorrhage into the 81
1 nal capillaries. differences as to infe
e ton in infantile paralysis were fu
n nshed by epidemicity in the diseas
,, the nature of its logical course, IL
e fact that oftenumes more than OF
h child in family was attacked, and e
e pecially the age-incidence: for almo
D. all acute infections measles, scarf
4 fever, whooping cough and the lik
S. are generally childhood disease; adul
r and the aged rarely succumb to the
Y. because such attacks in infancy a
s. likely to have conferred lifelong il
N munity upon the individual.
ir But in the light or our knowled
If up to date it is extremely likely tn
o. such factors as falls, antecedent d
he eases, and the like are not essent
re to tn development of infantile pa
Il. lysis, but have ben predisposing ag,
q. cies, making the tissues involved v
I'd nerable to specific virus. And
II. sides these predispositions there (
es others which physicians have come
To consider antecedent to infantile pa
e. lysis, and still others which accC
pany it and emphasize its serious
d. tnre. Such are wounds, insect Bit
he sore throat, coryza, tonsilitis, pm
es monia, earache and running ca
sb diarrhoea and other digestive distu
ed ances.
'er How The Virus May be Carried
ee- There are other considerations
We causation:
he Data collected in Scandinavia il
TAR cate especially well that the virus
are be carried by intermediate pers
we mot themselves i'll to the heal
-hs from the stricken, and from pate
ma not frankly paralyzed but suffer
ne from slight (so-called abortive)
re; tacks Of the disease. The incuba
in period in infantile paralysis has b
'pi- found to vary from five to thirty-tf
it days, the average being eight to