Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-26
InfantiIe Paralysis Is Believed
to Be on the Increase.
NO RECORDS KEPT HERE
Warrington Physicians Not Re.
quired by Law to Report Cases.
CAUSE OF DISEASE PUZZLES
Believed to Be Dust Entering
Through the Nose and Reaching
the Nerve Centers.

Infantile paralysis is believed to be
seriously on the increase in the District
Of Columbia. No authentic records OF
the spread Of this disease are obtainable.
because under the local health laws ply
sicians are not required to report cases
to the health department. The only rec
ord OF infantile paralysis which does
reach the health office is when a little
sufferer dies from the disease, and the
cause Of death naturally appears in the
certificate.
Health Officer Woodward is firmly OF
the opinion that much good would be
accomplished il physicians would re-
port cases Of infantile paralysis to the
health department at the time of their
inception, because he believes the dis
ease is communicable-proba not so
much so as scarlet fever, but still suf-
ficiently contagious to make it decided
ly advantageous to have cases reported
and houses placarded SO that other
children might be guarded from danger,
Infantile paralysis is not feared SO
much because of it's percentage or Ia
tally, since there are relatively fewer
deaths from the disease than there are
from several others which come directly
within the scope Of the so-called dis
eases of childhood. But infantile paraly-
sis does leave it's mark behind in most
distressing form. since many of its vic
Tins are paralyzed for life-sometimes
in one leg or both legs. sometimes in
one arm or both arms. and the mem
bers so para1yzed are not only denied
the power of locomotion or use, but
they most frequently cease to grow
from the moment the active phase OF
the disease is conquered.
Discussed at Medical Congress.
At the last great congress of physi-
clans and surgeons in Washington. when
specialists from all over the world were
assembled in this city, infantile paralysis
was one OF the most interesting subjects
of discussion. Considerable light was
then thrown upon this obscure disease.
but. even SO, the brightest minds in the
medical profession were compelled to ad-
nit they could not definitely determine
the cause of the disease-and it's germ
never has been isolated. From the fact
that 1t is. usually more prevalent In the
summer seasons it Is believed by some
investigators that the germs of the dis
ease probably are carried in the dust, and
that 1t is contracted through the lodging
of the active agents In the upper nasal
passages of children. whence it works its
way into the nervous system.
Infantile paralysis affects children most
frequently under the age of five years,
and records have shown that it is found
most often in children of the ages Of two
and three years
According to the practice of physicians
in the capital at the present time said
DR.. Woodward today. leases Of infantile
paralysis are reported II the attending
physician happens to take a serious view
of the situation. but it most frequently
is not reported. Similarly, il the par
tfcular physician on a case is of the
school which believes the disease to be
communicable, he takes the steps neces-
not believe the disease to be contagious
1t often happens that no precautions are
taken, and the road is left open for other
children to contract the dread malady."
Occurs in Semi-Epidemic Form.
According to records in the health
Office it Is shown that infantile paraly-
sis usually occurs in at least semi-epi-
demic form. One community may be
affected one year. and in an outbreak
there may be great numbers of chill
dren stricken. while in the next year
wide stretch Of the map might be
traversed without again finding the
disease prevalent to a great extent in
any city or town.
If infantile paralysis appears to seri-
ously threaten Washington this year
1T MAY be found necessary to have
the Commissioners write a new health
regulation into the book of local laws
SO that Health Officer Woodward and
his assistants may take steps to check
its progress.