Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-09
INfAN1ILE PARALYSIS
Can Be PREVENTED IF
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

|
cases of anterior poliomyelitis through
out the state, says the state board
OF health in it's latest bulletin. They
were not confined to any particular
locality, but isolated cases cropped out
in widely separated districts. This
year We may have repetition of last
year or We may have conditions very
much aggravated. In view of the SER
iOus nature of the disease and the
possibility of it's recurrence it seems
the part of wisdom to be fully inform
ed as to the main facts concerning
Its cause, prevention and care. We
are far from knowing all we should
about the disease although We have
learned great deal since last year.
1t occurs chiefly in children from I
contract it. In young subjects the
death rate is from 10 to rs per cent,
but in adults, however, the death rate
is much higher, reaching at least so
per cent. More or less permanent i'm
pairment of one or more groups of
/ muscles Is the result in nearly every
case that is infected. Recovery with.
! out some impairment of function is
the exception. The causative agent
has not as yet been isolated so as to
be recognized, although experiment.
ally 1t has been found to be possible
to transmit the disease to monkeys
from human beings. Dust seems to
play an important part in its produc-
ton Dry, dusty localities have suf-
fered more than localities that were
not so much troubled in this way. |
Acting on this knowledge epidemics
have been stopped by thoroughly
sprinkling the streets and keeping
them soaked. This would lead us to
suppose that the organism that is the
cause of the disease is carried in
the dust of the highway, but, on the
other hand, cases are common in the
country, where those affected lived
away from the highway. Dust, how
ever, has been found to be an ever
present agent. The most likely theory
is that some of our domestic animals,
the horse, for instance, act as car
riers. and that the germs are contain
ed in their objections. If this theory
is true it is easy to see how readily
street dust which is largely composed
of ground up horse manure, could be
made infectiye, and how sprinkling
could make it innocent by preventing
its spread by means of wind Institu.
tional inmates have so far been free
from the disease. presumably this be.
ing due to their seclusion and away
from the influences of infected street
dust. The disease is apparently not
infective after the acute stages have
passed, as localities with large mum.
bers Of what might be termed "chron-
ics," have not had repetition of past
Its development and course remind
one of the acute infectious diseases.
Its onset is acute, sudden and usually
severe. 1t is ushered in by fever,
headache. pain. diarrhoea or
with occasional stupor,
delirium and commissions. followed in
a varied time by paralysis. which &
comes on suddenly and is unnanounc-
ed as the fever is usually complete +
ly developed from the beginning. From ,
the foregoing the wisdom and the s
logic of the following suggestions by I
the Minnesota state board of health {
will be appreciated. They appear !
with equal force to North Dakota con. !
I
''As good citizens help in every way
all measures to prevent widespread I
trouble during the summer from dis.
ease Insist that cases which occur
are promptly reported to the health
Insist that watering OF
the streets be thoroughly done. Insist
that sick animals. especially horses
and colts do not run at large in your
community. Notify the health author.
tiles of any animals. especially horses, :
suffering from this disease or any.
thing like it.
'The great personalities and the G
best treatment for this disease, are :,
rest. quiet, good food. Keep your "
children in good physical condition :
over excitement or fatigue,
while they are we'll. If they become
sick, call physician and whatever
treatment is used. remember that
rest and quiet are essentials also. The
more quiet patients are kept, the bet
ter they can do. Prevent visitors OF
any kind from seeing the patient
Since everything points to it as be- I
ing a dust born disease ordinary
prudence would indicate that we
should look with suspicion on all un-
cooked foods, vegetables and fruits
hat had been exposed to dust. es-
pecially in localities where there has 4
been any cases of the disease. We
should be governed in the general
of the cases BY such
rules as we know to be efficacious in \
controlling the infectious diseases.
The patient should be properly iso-
ated in the home and those in at
tendance should have no association
with other members Of the family nor
with anyone outside. Destroy or dis
infect the discharge of the throat,
nose, bladder and bowels. For the
protection OF the public a placard
should be placed on the house con.
tanning the name'of the disease. This
should be maintained for at
east two weeks or until all acute