The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-08-18
INFANTILE
PARALYSIS
DR.. BRACKEN ISSUES BULLETIN
ON SUBJECT
METHOD OF PREVENTION
OF DISEASE Is POINTED OUT
BY THE SPECIALIST.

.~>OTtuWeSI Cue past year, is ulSCuSSeu
in a bulletin issued by DR.. H. M Brac.
ken, secretary Of the Minnesota state
board Of health. AS Brookings and
vicinity have had a number of cases
we reprint the bulletin in full. It is
as follows:
The Investigations so far conducted
as to the cause and transmission of
acute anterior ~poliomylitis, also call
ed infantile paralysis and epidemic
paralysis, justify the state board of
health in offering the following advice
for the care Of children during the
summer:
Children from ten years old down
are more susceptible than childrtn
above this age, over three-fourths of
the cases being under ten years OF
age. All ages suffer, however, even
adults. The most susceptible age Is
from one TO five years, the next under
n year, and the next from six to
ten years. Although adults are not
often attacked, nearly one-half Of
those adults attacked die, taking all
ages and both sexes about one-ffth
die.
1t would appear hat the best pre-
ventives for children are:
/. To watch diet, giving only rea-
~sonable quantities of wholesome nutri-
tious food, especially avoiding any
thing likely to upset the stomach, poor
milk, unripe fruit or vegetables, etc.,
or even ripe fruit and vegetables il
they have been exposed to dust.
2. To watch exercise, preventing
any excessive effort or fatigue, even
at play, particularly In the sun and
in hot weather.
8. To watch the bowels; avoiding
constipating foods or sluggishness
or the 1owv,1 frunn any cause. Sc
cure by treatment if need be, free
evacauations daily.
4. To watch associations with dust.
especially the dust Of city streets.
country roads, barnyards, stables, etc
No health measure relating to this
disease should be more rigidly en-
forced during this summer than the
careful soaking mot merely sprink-
ling) Of streets, roads, barnyards and
other open places where animals, es-
pecially horses, wander.
5. To watch that children do not
play Oh streets, even after the streets
are well sprinkl d. Sprinkling only
vets the dust and keeps it from wide
distribution. If the germ is in the
dry dust it Is probably in the vet
dust; and if the wet dust is tracked
into the house for young children to
get into their hands and so into their
mouths, the disease may be conveyed
to them. Flies should be avoided as
much as possible.
6. To watch the children's play
mates, and to avoid even distant as
ISOLATION with other children sick
with this disease or with anything re-
sembling it; or with the members, In.
Guiding adults, of families in which
the disease exists.
Z. To watch the sick children them
selves. Confine them to their own
premises; destroy or disinfect the dis
charge Of the throat, nose, bladder and
bowels; prevent their association with
anyone but an attendant who does
nothing but care for them; in case
of death, allow a private funeral only.
Remember rest as a preventive and
treatment.
s. In the event Of any child show
ing the symptoms, which are usual to
the beginning Of an attack Of polimytli-
tbs (fever, headache, pain, constipa-
ton, vomiting) remember that while
these symptoms may near nothing but
la passing disturbance, they may be
the first stages Of poliomyelitis call
a physician at once, and meantime
keep the child quiet. If the child
seems to recover almost wholly in
two to four days, do not remit watch
~fulness, for in ~poliomyelitis the initial
symptoms, after lasting two or four
days, often disappear for a day or two,
to be followed then by a return Of the
symptoms and paralysis. Therefore
do not suppose that the trouble L.
all over, when the fever, vomiting.
headache, etc., a in such cases,
but rather redouble your attention to
diet, light exercise only, prevention Of
fatigue or excitement, exposure to the
sun, dust, ETC., for at least q week. II
the symptoms indicated only a pass