The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-12
HEDGES NOT KNOW
Expert Investigator Of Infantile
Paralysis.
Unable to Tell What Causes the
Disease.
VISIT TO PHILLIPS.
IT TO PHILLIPS.
DR.. SkOOg Finds Disease More
Severe Than Before.
Two Out of Family of Four Have
Died.

Kansas City. July 1--we do not
know the germ that causes infantlle
paralysis; we do not know how it
spreads. We know it only by its work
ings in it's own peculiar way and by
the physical wrecks and death it leaves
In its path
So DIR. A. L. Skoog, Kansas City
physician, described the epidemic
which has made its appearance again
In north central Kansas. He had just
returned from Phillips county, where
he was called by DIR. S. ]. Crumbine
of the Kansas board of health to in
vestigate new cases of the paralysis
that had developed; the first to be re-
ported this year. In the three coun-
ties he visited, there were more than
forty cases of the strange disease last
summer. The unknown germ caused
death in more than one-third of the
cases.
Another epidemic, like that of last
year 2" the scientist repeated the ques-
ton thoughtfully. 81 do not know.
We can not tell. We can not predict
what may develop. We can only take
every precaution with the cases as
they appear; isolate them. And then
hope that it may not spread. We
know more about the disease than we
did last year. We ought to be able
to fight it more effectively. But we
can not tell"
pearance in Kansas, DR.. Skoog has
been cooperating with the Kansas
board of health in an effort to discover
an effeffctive remedy for the swift visi-
tations of the epidemic. Last week he
was asked by DR.. Crumbine to visit
Norton, Decatur and Phillips counties.
where the infantile paralysis was
prevalent last summer, to note the eff
feet on it's victims after one year of
recuperation.
"I was just preparing to leave for
Norton county," DR.. Skoog said last
night, when 1 received a telegram
from DR.. Crumbine stating that sew
eral cases resembling infantile paraly-
sis had developed in Phillips county.
I found it to be the epidemic again and
in q more severe form than last year.
One child, a boy of Is. had been
stricken and died in five days. An
six days sickness. Two other children
in this same family are sick with the
epidemic, but they may recover.
II Travelled over the three counties
where the epidemic was prevalent last
year, but cases in this one family are
the only ones that have developed this
summer. We have them isolated and
hope that the paralysis will not spread
But we cannot tell
"a Those Who Live Are Crippled.
. Doctor Skoog says that of the pa
tients who lived through the epidemic
last year two have entirely recovered
from the effects of the paralysis. The
others still show the results of the dis
ease in some form. Many are still help
less cripples. In Kansas last summer
there were approximately 100 cases.
While the fatalities did not average as
high over the state as in the three
counties which stood the brunt of the
epidemic, in nearly every case the VIC
Tins, children less than Is years old,
were left crippled.
I'VE hope there will be no epidemic;
that the disease will not spread as it
did last year DR.. Skoog said. But we
are better able to meet it. Science has
yet to discover the germ which causes
the disease, but it has shown beyond
a doubt that it is caused by some
germ. A serum from the spinal cord
of victim of the disease has infected
monkeys with the disease. The patient
can be isolated in one room as well as
in a house mile away. 1t is infec-
tious, not contagious"