Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-09-07
iNFANTlLE PARALYSIS IN Blu.
ctiANAN COUNTY.

cHANAN COUNTY.
Three Deaths From the Disease Re-
ported.
Acute anterior poliomyelits, the
disease commonly known as ipfantile
paralysis, last week made its initial
appearance in Buchanan county, after
having been quite prevalent in Mason
City and sprinkled over the state to
smaller extent. Three deaths are
reported as having been caused by
he disease. One of young man 20
years OF age, another young man
IT 10 and another of young girl of
Ia years All of the victims resided in
the country. Paul R. Piercy, the first
mentioned resided 1.2 miles south
u town in Sumner township. while
Glen Bittle and Jessie Louise Tiffany.
the two others, resided north of the
reported to have been caused by the
disease was that of Julia weber, age
years, north of town, but the case
was not pronounced infantile paraly
us. Another case is reported at the
Linn home in Sumner township. None
has beeen announced in town, how
ever. Naturally there has been Great
ed more CIR less nrvousness among
parents ardd some foolish reports are
to be heard en- the sr@etts. While the
cause of the disease battles the
medical fraternity it does no good
to worry and the best medical auth
'rities say that the disease has al
ways been in evidence, mainly dur
ng the warm months Of the year.1n
Ill cases where it has been at all
prevalent, 1t has been, in both Amer
ca and England, during the months
" July, August and September. This
being the case, the coming OF cooler
weather would, from past experience,
bring about a checking of the disease
Physicians being unable to find
the cause of the trouble, there is not
much to be said along the line of pre-
stationary measures that should he
adopted. 1t is good idea, for one to
follow ordinary hygienic rules, keep
ng oneself in the best possible con
iition and abstaining from gorging al
he table being careful in the select
on of food and drinking nothing bur
| good pure water. 1t has been assert
ed in many newspapers that the
germs are in the dust, which being
stirred up by autos, causes a spread
Of the disease. This idea is consid
cred incorrec! by leading physician
however.
There is difference of opinion a
to whether It is contagious, blu
many leading physician are of tn
opinion that it is not, although mos
physicians are of thhe belief that
is infectious. The best authorities
have been and are making throug
4 Investigation of the disease and ther
is according to Osler a steadily II
crcasing belief 1t is due to microbia
Infection. Osler states that the result
o. research made by Flicker, tina
whom there is no one more thorough
has not resulted in the discovery c
bacteria or organism. AS evidenc
that it is not contagious, physician
in other places point out that whe
member of family has been stric
!, IN, the disease has not attacked oil
er members thereof, like small pc
Or other such diseases are apt to 1
The disease is said to be more pr
valent in children from 1 to yeal
although te cases hereabouts hay
'anged among persons considerabl
older. 1t is said to diminish in nun
Der OF cases up to the fourth decad'
and case in a person over 40 is e,
ceedingly rare.
Some even go so afar as to asse
, that death always ensues. This, fro
, past experience, is far from the trut
In 1907-1908 in New York city thel
were 1900 cases reported, and tt
death rate was only 6 or per cen
Until that time the disease had ccl
fined itself mainly to the country di
tricts, which has been the case in til
, vicinity. While large percentage
those who recover are said to
crippled, the degree of this
greater or less and in man
cases but slight, it is said. Osler h;
: written that deaths from infantlie p
ralysis are rare in children betwee
the ages of 2 and 4. He also nott
: that it has been attributed to cold
over-exertion and falls.
The disease is not new one.
though many are asserting that it
= /: was first discovered in 1910 1
: Heine. 1t is said to be about equal
divided etwenn the sexes, but
adult cases the males exceed the
males. TIL symptoms include perha
. indigestion, pains in the back of Il
y head and neck, with fever and lat
numbness or lack of power in the pr
= tion Of the body afflicted by paralys
-Bulletin-Journal.
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