Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-27
HEALTH EXPERTS PRESENT Ex.
PLANTATION OF lNFANTlLE
PARALYSIS EPIDEMIC.
GERMS THRIVE IN MANURE
AND ARE SPREAD BY WINDS
Dread Disease Turks in Filthy Streets
Government Officials on Way to
Iowa to Investigate Mason City Epi-
demic-Twenty- Six Cases in That
City and Alarm is Felt.

sis is that it is germ disease, and
well as generate In horse manure and
are spread by the manure being ground
up In the dust that blows about upon
the city streets.
This view is the one taken by the
Iowa state board Of health. Drs. Nc
Manus and Eiker, members Of the state
board. have given great deal of at
ttention to this terrible malady, and at
the recent session Of the board last
week in Des Moines, appealed to the
ance in fighting the epidemic in u Ia,
especially at Mason City
Wade H. Frost, assistant surgeon If
the United States Public Health and
Marine Hospital Service Of Washing
Moines to confer with the members Of
the Iowa state board of health relative
to the epidemic Of infantile paralysis
at Mason City.
The quick response by the govern
Of the federal authorities to make use
Ol every Oppol luAIIy ~ SeoAJ 1888 ANS''
disease and discover a cure and pre-
tentative for 1t If possible.
DR.. Moerkle. Of Burlington, president
Of the state board OF health. probably
will meet Assistant Surgeon Frost in
Mason City.
Twenty Six Cases Now.
There are twenty-Six cases i'll Ma
(y;x.. ipNo n
large number OF deaths have appalled
the community. Not only children,
but elderly people, and those In middle
life have been attacked. The physicions
have been almost helpless. One leading
practitioner has sent his family away
for the summer, hoping by fall the
epidemic would be under better con-
troll.
The only treatment which seems 70
affect the ravages OF the disease is
application Of an electrical current
as soon as the disease is noticeable
several CASES have beer controlled IN
this way.
Dirty Streets a Menace.
Mason City may be largely to blame
because of the spread Of the disease
here. If the theory of the state board
Is correct. They state that the dis
ease is more prevalent in cities where
there are paved streets, and particu-
larly where the streets are not kept
clean and are permitted to become
dusty. The dust blowing from the
streets into the houses is believed to
be responsible to a great extent for
the disease.
Investigation has brought out the
fact that the disease does not develop
in towns where there are no paved
streets or where the streets are kept
clean and free from refuse.
Mason City has been very dusty the
past year. Building operations and
the dryness Of the season have con-
tributed to the general sloven appear
ance Of the city streets An increased
street force might secure greater
cleanliness and yet save many lives.
Some Typical Cases.
The epidemic here has been severe.
The age usually attacked Is from to
Z years. Occasionally those older are
taken with it. When in the city DR..
McManus said: II think you have right
here in your city the oldest case on
record" The doctor referred to Charles
Tribblecock. who is 4S years Of age.
He believed that too much caution
could be exercised in the care Of the
disease. 1t was not known that it was
dangerous but there was great danger
in people, especially children, who
were around others sick with the dis
ease, catching 1t, and he advised keep
ing the patient away from other mem
bers of the family as much as possible.
One of the most pitable cases Is that
Of Marshall Palmer, who lives out in
the country about four miles. His
paralysis was almost complete, and he
can now only move the tip ends of his
fingers on one hand. Marshall is a
m ember of the class that will graduate
from the high school next June but tho
condition is not hopeful that he will
ever be permitted to. graduate. If he
RECEIVERS 1t ds more than probable that
he will be a cripple for life, and pos
81 bly, helpless.