The Washington herald., 1910-12-11

Epidemic poliomyelitis is getting more
and more 10 be recognized as a serious
problem facing the guardians Of the pub
lie health, chiefly by reason Of the enor-
mously increased prevalence of the dis
ease. both in the total number of persons
affected and in the area of its epidemic
prevalence
To begin with, epidemic poIiomyelitis is
an acute affection due to d specific micro
organism. The demonstrations that the
Iseeretions OF the mouth and nose are
infectious, even IN monkeys inocuiated
intraeranially and the successful inocu-
lation OF monkeys through the respiratory
and digestive tracts. form a convincing
chain Of evidence that the disease is
transmissible by direct contaglOn.
OF the 5000 cases reported from 1906 20
1909. approximately 5000 have occurred in
the United States. The cases OF 1907 were
confined quite definitely 10 New York and
its vicinity. but epidemics also were re-
ported from several States. in 1909 from at
least four, and in 1910 from II States.
while fragmentary reports from the Sur
geon General of the Marine-hospital SeTve
ice indicate approximately $500 cases TO-
ported from % States, and additional re-
ports (unofficiaD make il certain that 1900
is a minimum estimate Of the cases oc-
curing in the United States during the
present year.
While these figures do not appear alarm
ing when compared with the statistics OF
other infectious diseases, there are in the
prevalence of epidemic poliomyelitis GER
tain features which add to the serious
ness OF the problem. namely, il rapidly
progressing increase and the mystery
which still surrounds its origin and means
Of dissemination.
How TO Prevent Disease.
To define the status of the health
officer in regard 10 epidemic poliomye-
litis, 1t will be necessary first TO give a
brief summary OF facts bearing on its
preventability. Laboratory studies, a
large and valuable part OF which has
been contributed by Flexner and Lewis
from the Rockefeller Institute. have
demonstrated that the disease is trans
MISSILE from human beings TO monkeys
and from monkey 10 monkey. Animals
other than the monkey have been found
insusceptible, except by a few observers
who report successful inoculations OF
rabbits. II has been demonstrated that
minute size, being able TO pass through
a Berkefeld filter: that il is easily killed
by heat and by comparatively weak dis
infectants; that it is very resistant TO
cold and to drying. in the bodies of in
fected animals the virus germ of the
disease has been demonstrated not only
/ in the spinal cord and brain. but in the
nasal mucous membrane. the salivary
glands, mesenteric glands, and, after
subcutaneous incubation, az the site Of
incubation and in the lymph glands re-
ceiving the drainage from that area. The
| cerebro-spinal fluid and blood have been
found infectious in the early stages OF
the disease. It appears, however, that
the virus is present in the blood only in
the early stages of infection, and then in
small amounts
Immunity after an attack OF the dis
ease is manifested in monkeys by in
susceptibility 10 reinOculatiOn. In the
blood OF both persons and monkeys after
recovery from the disease specific anti
bodies have been demonstrated, capable
OF neutralizing in vitro certain amounts
OF the virus. The efforts % produce an
anti-toxin Of therapeutic value have so
far been unsuccessful, as have also the
efforts 10 devise a safe means Of pro-
tective incubation or vaccination
Method of incubation.
The most uniformity successful method
Of inoeulating monkeys IS by injection
of the virus into the central nervous
system, but successful NEGOTIATIONS have
been made into the peripheral nerves.
intravenously, INDEPENDENTLY, and sub
cutaneously; also. which is Of great i'm
portance, by introducing the virus into
the stomach or intestines, by rubbing il
into the scarihed mucous membrane OF
the nose, and, as reported by one OBJ
server. by bathing the uninjured nasal
mucosa with an emulsion Of the virus.