Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-28
PERIL TO CHILDREN
InfantiIe Paralysis Prevalent
in the District.
MALADY'S CAUSE UNKNOWN
Foremost Scientists Engaged in
Seeking Preventive.
WORSE IN THE SUMMER TIME
Theory Advanced That Insects Garry
Infection-Hen Blamed in
Pennsylvania.
MALADY'S CAUSE UNKNOWN
WORSE IN THE SUMMER TIME

Infantile paralysis, that most dreaded
of diseases affecting children, seems to
be spreading to an alarming extent in the
District of Columbia. One more death
occurred yesterday, when Charles Fred
erick Blew, five years old, succumbed at
his home, 1926 D street northeast, after
suffering a comparatively brief time from
the disease.
Tue health laws Of the District do not
require physicians to report cases of in
fantile paralysis to the health depart
ment, but the present outbreak is regard
ed with such general alarm that numer-
Gus informal reports have been made by
physicians of the cases which they are
called upon to atten. and il has been
estimated that there are M more than
one hundred cases In the city
Specialists in the Dark.
Although a great many of the most ad-
vanced specialists in the country have
been endeavoring for years to ascertain
the cause of infantile paralysis, the factors
which enter into the spread of infection
are still entirely unknown. 1t mas been
proved that the disease is most common
in the summer seasons, and bee .use in
sect life is at its height at this tiIue Of
year scientists have tried to trace the
contributing cause in some of the cases to
flies, mosquitoes or other known gel l., car
riers. Similarly the research work has
extended to Investigations of the possible
effect Of hot weather, or Of dust, which
flies in it's largest clouds in the summer
time.
The result of all Of the work by ply
sicians and other scientists has produced
nothing more valuable in the way of SuE-
RoStAd
eral warning to parents to screen the
beds of their children against flies and
mosquitoes and to give especial care to
cleanliness.
The health department has found no
reason for the prevalence of infantile
paralysis in Washington, and its investi-
cation in the matter is seriously ham,
pered by the lack of the necessary reg
ulations to require physicians to report
the cases which they attend.
Leaves Life Cripples.
AS it's name implies infantile paralysis
is most common among children of tender
years. 1t is found in children up 10 the
ages of seven and eight years, though 1t
is most prevalent among babies at the
teething period. It's attack always is sud
den. and its first symptoms are fever.
caused by inflammation at the pase of the
spine. InlS prOQuCeS paralysis, anu even
though the percentage Of mortality in the
disease is not high, It's worst effect Is to
leave its victims crippled for life. Chill
dren who have suffered from interior
poliomyelitis, which is the scientific name
of the disease, frequently lose the use OF
arms or legs, or both. for life, and the
limbs affected often cease growing at the
point where the disease left them
The local health department Is striving
to secure the cooperation of all physi-
clans in isolating their cases, SO that the
danger of contagion or spread of infection
may be minimized.