Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-11-20
I|NFANI|LE PARALYSIS
CALLED DREAD DISEASE
LOCAL PHYSICIANS TAKE EXCEPTION ARTICLE
TRIBUNE CLAIMING THAT IT is DIRECT INSULT
PROFESSION HANy


This conclusion follows from the fact
that it passes with ease through the
pores Of the densest and finest por.
celain filters known to human science.
The filteratis are very potent and
quantities as small as 1000 of Il Gu
bic centimeter injected into a monkey
will suffice to cause paralyshis.
When We consider the difficulties
encountered in these experiments to
demon st rate the real cause, is it IA
wonder that some of the theories adj
vanced from time to time should now
and then be Exploded? Small poX,
scarlet fever, whooping cough and
measles have been known to human
ity for centuries, yet nobody has been
able to demonstrate the caustive
germ OF either of these diseases al
though scientists have made lifelong
studies of them without success.
Consumption has been known for
centuries and the theory of heredity
was the one which all scientific peo.
pie considered as the dominent cause
of the disease, yet even that theory
was exploded little over twenty
years ago, when Koch demonstrated
the tubercule bacilluh as the specific
cause.
Since then the theories regarding
the spread of tuberculosis and the
means of infection have been eXplod-
ed again and again until finally only
a few years ago, the transmisibility of
consumption has been definitely es
tablished, and thereby caused a revo-
luton in the matter of progress and
treatment.
These studies have taken centur-
les, and yet the National League Of
Medical Freedom condemns the men
and their work, who, within the short
space of three years were unable to
demonstrate definitely the specific
cause of anterior poilonyelitis.
There are within the United States
at present between 10000 and 100000
cases of infantile paralysis, and a con-
servative estimate from authoritive
sources, places the minimum num-
Der of cases since 1906 at 100000.
New York, Massachusetts. Pennsyl-
vania, Rhode Island and other Allan
tic states, reported from 500 to 1000
cases a year within the last three or
four years, while Minnesota, the Da-
kotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wash
ington and Idaho have all paid a fear
full TOLL According to reports, fifteen
cases in ever one hundred resulted in
death; ten completely recovered and
sixty or more were left with perman-
ent paralysis of one or more limbs.
This means that six CT seven children
in every ten attacked by the disease,
are doomed to go through life without
a complete use of their bodies; a
small percentage with both legs USE
less; some with leg or Arm wither-
ed; scome with club or misshapen
feet, but all handicapped in some de-
gree for the race of life.
If the impression has been enter
tanned by anyone that the term, I'm
fantile Paralysis is used by the med
ical Profession to brighten the people
at large, and thereby to increase their
income, let him visit any family in
this neighborhood where one or more
members have been stricken by death
or permanent paralysis and deform-
ity, and decide for himself whether
it is Bugaboo or not.
w. H. BODENSTAB, NJ. D.