Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-01
EXPERTS ON EPIDEMIC
GOVERNMENT AND STATE PHYS.
lcrANs DISCUSS lNFANTILE
PARALYSIS.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
TAKEN At MASON CITY
No Known Successful Treatment and
Stops Taken to Prevent FYrther
Spread by Quarantins-Few Females
Victims of Epidemic at Mason City
Dust Theory Exploded.

Dust Theory Exploded.
Mason City, Aug. 1.-Physicians and
the Iowa board of health with DR.. W..
III. Frost. Of the United States marine
hospital service, held a conference
hero In the office OF DR.. McGlone. The
meeting resulted in somethings OF
united action among the physicians
concerning treatment of the disease
known as infantile paralysis. A press
committee was appointed which has
promised to keep the public posted.
A committee was also appointed 10
place the matter before the Commercial
Club to secure funds for stamping out
the disease. The state board OF health
and DR.. Frost jointly issued statements
which are as follows:
Infantile paralysis or acute anterior
pohomyelitts, is now known to the citi-
zens CT Mason City as epidemic in
this town. There have been to date
somewhat more than fifty cases report
ed by the physicians. This Is disease
which most frequently attacks children.
aitho adults are occasionally attacked.
The first symptoms are In q general
way similar to the first symptoms OF
most infectious diseases, headache,
usually in back Of head. pains in vari-
GUS parts OF the body, especially the
neck, some times sort throat, often
vomiting and diarrhoea, sometimes
chill: and fever which may not be very
high. After several days there Is
paralysis or loss OF power to move GER
tain muscles Of the body. The legs or
arms are most frequently paralyzed.
but sometimes only the muscles OF the
face are paraIyzed, and in such cases
the paralysis may not be noticed ex-
cept by physician. The fever COM
mences TO subside shortly after the
paralysis appears, and ~ltnin q few
days OR two weeks the patient may be
quite we'll except Tor the inability to
move the paralyzed parts. In some
cases. the power Of motion returns to
all the paralyzed muscles and the pa
tlent Is mono the worse for the attack.
In more cases. however. while some OF
the paralysis disappears one or moro
limbs remain permanently disabled,
rendering the victim lifelong cripple.
The most severe cases are fatal, but
fortunately such cases are compare
lively rare.
Is Germ Disease.
Work done IN the United States and
In European countries within the last
year has proved that this disease is due
to germ and Is communicable from
persons who have the disease to mon.
keys. The germs which cause the dis
ease must be extremely small, prob
ably too small to be seen with the most
powerful microscope. These germs are
present IN the spinal cords Of persons
who have the disease, in the mouth.
and probably in other parts of the
body. This has been proven by many
careful scientific experiments.
The same experiments have proved
that the disease may be caused in mon
keys by introducing the germs into the
mouth or into the nose, or by inject
ing under the skin.
It Is known then that the disease
is due to a particular germ; that
these germs are present in the body
Of persons who have the disease:
and that these germs, carried from
the sick person may cause the dis
ease in well people. 1t is not definite
ried, but possibly in some OF the
lO1ic Wig lleLAo VI WILL
ing that have touched the sick per-
son: on food which has been hand
led by hands soiled with the germ
the germs may hey blown about in
the air. and breathed in by others:
insects possibly carry the germs
from the sick to we'll persons.
isolate the Patient.
To prevent the disease. the germs
must be destroyed as far as possible
before they escape the sick room.
The following measures are rec
commended to check the spread Of
the disease from those who have It:
l. Everyone who has the disease
or is even suspected to have it
should be kept away from other peo-
pie in room and no one should
be allowed to go into this room ex-
cept the nurse and the doctor. Flies
and other insects should be kept out
of the room by screens. Other peo-
pie, especially children, should be
kept away from houses in which there
Is sickness.
2. EVERYTHING that comes from
the sick room should be disinfected
to kill any germs that may be upon
1t. Instructions for disinfection will
be issued by the board OF health and
physicians, ana these INSTRUCTIONS must
be followed exactly. Distinction and
fumigation unless done correctly and
thoroughly are useless.
Protect We'll Children.
For the protection OF children who
have not had the disease. the fol-
lowing advice is given to parents:
/. Keep the children away from
hcuses where there !s sickness Keep
them away from public gatherings
and, as far as possible. at home.
2. See to 1t that they get no
food which comes from a house
where there is a suspected case Of
this disease.
8. Gar1e the throat and wash
out the nose twice a day with So
luton of peroxide Of hydrogen, a
tablespoonful to a glass Of water.
4. Keep them and their clothes
clean.
1t is advisable during the dry wealth
err to keep down dust as far as pos
s.bic by gprinkling streets and lawns.
It has been recognized for some
years that this disease often oc-
CURED In epidemics, and within the
last five years such epidenics have
been more frequent than formerly,
especially in the northern portion OF
- HI VyA