Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-10
DISEASE IS WANING
ONLY FIFTEEN CASES OF INFAN-
TILE PARALYSIS AT MASON
CITY NOW.
MAY BE ONLY A LULL
AND PRECAUTIONS CONTINUE
Physicians Hold Meeting and Discuss
Situation Strict Quarantine and
Fumisation Advised and Suggestion
Made That Public Gatherings Be
Suspended For Time.


any idea that the physicians of Mason
City are not thoroughly aroused over
the presence Of the infantile paralysis
in this city they are greatly mistaken.
That they want to deal fairly and
squarely with the people in general
and at the same time be just to the
commercial interests Of the city is
! true. The first consideration however,
is, as it should be, the. public health.
| There was fair representation of the
medical profession Of the city at a
called meeting and upon invitation
representatives of the North Iowa fair
and the representatives of the press of
the city as we'll as correspondents of
the outside papers We're invited in. And
while some things said during the dis
cussion would have been much better
unsaid, the meeting was highly profit
able and will result in good in stamp
! ing out the prevalence of the disease.
| DR.. Frost Defends the Newspapers.
| If the newspapers needed any de-
! Tense in their position in giving the
public real facts, they received it from
DR.. Frost. who complimented the Ma
son City press for the way in which
| they handled the situation. He said
| that he had not seen an exaggerated
report and he thought that the cor
respondents of the outside papers were
doing a good thing in helping arouse
the people to the necessity of vigorous
and prompt action in stamping out the
disease. This opinion was shared in
| by the doctors present.
Local Condition is Better.
That there is an improvement in the
| local condition seems to be the general
| opinion. According to reports there
are fewer cases this week than there
, were last. DR.. Frost didn't want to lay
too much stress upon this fact, how
ever, for it might be only lull in
the disease August and September
were usually regarded as bad months
for the spread of such disease as this,
and people should be cautious, and use
every precaution. Quarantine, isolation
and fumigation should be most care
fully looked after These are the best
| things that can be recommended at
! the present time.
| The question of public gatherings
came up in the course of the discus
sion. 1t was thought by some of
| the physicians that it would be a
good thing to recommend to the peo-
pie the closing Of the theaters, the
play houses, the churches, and sug-
gest that there be no public gather
ings until the condition was better than
lat present. This was simply pre-
cautionary measure. DR.. Frost thought
that such a suggestion was very good
It was thought, however, that the re-
comm endations under discussion pretty
Well covered these things and no def
mite action was taken. other than that
| included in the recommendation.
The Real Condition.
To tell just the condition in Mason
| City at the present time is difficult
matter. The limit is high enough
when we state that there has been
lin all some sixty cases. That means
from the very inception of the disease
three months ago until now. Possibly
there have been six or seven deaths
That will cover it. At the present time
including the actual as well as the
suspicious cases-ffteen is high
number Now, if the people with their
tongues will be as careful to dissemi-
mate the truth at the press is in maxi
ing the above clear statement. these
exaggerated reports will not occur.
There is no necessity for them. The
truth is bad enough.
Reports to the State Board of Health.
Dr. Frost is keeping the state board
of health posted as to the situation
here In his report he says, that he
had not yet arrived at any conclusions
as to the cause of the epidemic.
"The cases 1 have found are very
interesting, especially those where the
patient has entirely recovered" he
said. II am still at a loss to KNOX the
exact cause of the epidemic. and as
vet have reached no conclusions ex-
cept in a very general way