The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-08
AT ODDS
Wide Difference of Opinion
as to Infantile Paralysis
CURE IS NOT YET DISCOVERED
studied for Many Years. MaIady Has
Beer Battling TO the Profession,
Asserts DR. }. A. FIynn-PrOf. Park
err Says Contagious Theory TO Be
Far from the Truth.

Although there is nothing new about
fantile paralysis. physicians differ widely
as TO whether or not it is an epidemic,
and as TO the best cure.
Some of them say outright that it is
not contagious, while others declare Il
Is. The health department seems to be
following the epidemic theory The dis
ease. has swept through the West and
South, and there were hundreds of cases
in New York and Chicago last year.
The Washington Herald has received
many communications from physicians
and laymen since the so-calIed epidemic
started here. Following are three Of
them
J. A. Flynn, NJ. D.-Infantlle paralysis
Is not a new disease as many imagine,
but, on the contrary. has been known TO
the medical profession and studied for
years.
This disease. which IS so dangerous at
present to our infant population. is sci
entihcal!y known as acute poliomyelitls.
or acute atrophic paralysis. both signih-
cant terms TO the scientific workers and
medical men, as these names really de-
scribe the disease process upon the It's
sues Of the person suffering from IT,
Spreads Through West.
InfantiIe paralysis Is an acute disease
which occurs almost exclusively in young
children. but has been known among
adults. During the past year infantile
paralysis spread over several Western
States, particularly Wisconsin and Ne
| braska, leaving It's trail Of death 10 re-
mind those people OF SIS terrible ravages.
The death rate has varied in different
epidemics, in some being as high as %
per cent.
The greatest number Of cases occur IN
children between the ages Of one and
Eve, and the onset is sudden. with slight
fever and an early and extensive loss Of
muscular power In other cases a child
viii retire as usual in a healthy condi-
! ton, and in the morning will be found
parah-zed in one or more members.
The disease may be ushered in by sud
den vomiting. pain in the LEGS. or general
soreness. At other times the disease
takes a more severe course and we get
commissions. delirium, and an extremely
high temperature Of l03 OF lO4 degrees.
marked prOstration. constipation, severe
pain in the back and extremities. and
along the course Of the spinal nerves.
The course Of the disease IS from one
to four weeks. during which time utug
change IS seen in the affected muscles:
then wasting of the muscle shows and
gradual shortening OF the affected limb
begins to appear.
should Receive Attention.
The course OF the disease and its de-
struet!W effects upon the structures of
the body cannot interest the layman.
therefore Il Is sufficient 20 say that a
disease. so destructive 10 the future use
fulness OF the individual attacked ought
20 receive our most careful attention and
best medical care. During the heated
season children should be protected from
the direct roys OF the sun, from sudden
changes OF temperature, and from cold
drafts.
The food should be clean. fresh. and
well prepared. The nasal passages
should be cleansed twice daily with a
mild antisepuc solution; and the child
should be bathed daily and have sufi-
cient rest.
Prof. II. n. S. Parker: BY publishing
the following. you may IN a small de-
gree, relieve the apprehension OF many
a mother who IS now firm in the belief
that infantile paralysis Is both contagious
and infectious. No statement could be
further from the truth.
Disease Not Infectious.
To charge that infantle paralysis Is
infectious or contagious. is as criminal
as the ailment IS pernicious. That there
IS no pathological difference in the paraIy-
sis OF the infant fhd the adult. is well
known 10 every GIagnOstician Of expert
ence, and I venture the assertion that
there is not a reputable physician whose
experience is ripened by years Of prac-
I tice, who will father the statement. that
/ infantile paralysis. or any other form OF
paralysis is either contagious or infec-
| tious. Why, then. all this talk OF its
! contagious nature. and unnecessarily
alarming parents? 1t is an old and quite
common malady, which has existed as
long as we have had any history OF chill
dren, and never before has the medical
/ fraternity charged that it was pestilential
and dangerous TO associate with those so
afflicted
Is 1t not about time to drop all this rot
Of the microbe, bacilli and germ theory
or disease, when, as matter OF fact, the
disease is the cause of the presence OF
the microbe, &c, and it has been proven
I time without number, that the microbe.
&c. cannot live in healthy tissue, and
turn our attention to seeking the true
cause Of disease? II Is usually so simple
to determine, that in the vain effort of
looking for something difficult, the true
cause Is not even suspected
:. II. Rowe. NJ V. T.-Paralysis Is a
disease principally affecting the nervous
system, characterized by loss or dimin-
u;ion Of motion or feeling. or of both. in
one or more parts Of the body. When
one entire side is affected, It is distln-
guished among professional men by the
name Of hemiplegia: IL the lower half be
attacked, It is named rarapiegia. and
when confined TO a particular limb or set
Of muscles. it IS called paralysis.
Preceded by Tvitching.
1t sometimes is preceded by a coldness
and paleness and by a slight convulsive
twitching. When the head is much az
| fected. the eye and mouth are drawn to
one side, the memory and judgment are
much impaired, and the speech indistinct.
II the extremitles are affected. 1t not
only produces a loss OF motion and sensi-
/ bility, but occasionally the disease ad-
vances more slowly, a finger, hand. or
arm, or the muscles OF the fone31e Of