Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-07-20
WAR ON INFANTLE PARALYSIS
Outbreak of Dread Disease is Feared
as a Result of Warm Weather.


in Idaho, of an epidemic Of infantile
paralysis, otherwise known as anter-
ior poliomyelltis. the terrible spinal
disease which carries such awful
mortality among babies and children
the state health department has de-
termined to send ont TO all local
health officers in all parts Of the state
a special bulletin describing the char
acter, progress and fearful effects Of
the malady
This phamphlet gives a history Of
the courses Of the disease in Idaho,
particularly describing its onslaughts
In this state last summer. and sepa-
rate maps are also being printed.
showing in red figures the number
Of deaths from infantile paralysis in
the various counties.
These maps show that the disease
has ragged hercest in Idaho county,
where So cases were reported. re-
suIting in six deaths. The other coun-
ties in which cases were reported were
Nez Perce. 5; Latah. 4 Kootenai, A.;
Clearwater, Shoshone. I ; Bonner
2; Canyon. 2; Ada. o.; Custer, 2;
Fremont. A; Owyhee. 1 !; Lincoln. /;
and Twin Fails. g.
The counties in which no cases we're
reported we're Oneida. Bear Lake.
Bannock, Bingham. Cassia. Elmore.
Boise, Blaine, Lemhi and Washing
ton
Deaths from infantile paralysis
were reported as follows Idaho
County. s. Canyon, Owyhee Latah.
Clearwater and Kootenai. one each.
The total cases reported in the
state amounted TO 81, while a total
Of / deaths was recorded
Or. Ralph Falk. secretary OF the
board. in giving warning to the gem
eral public, says: Should case Of
infantile paralysis occur near you,you
can do yourself and your communi-
ty a great good by seeing that the
family has one Of the state board OF
health pamphlets on this disease.
Copies can be obtained without cost
by addressing your county physi7
clan or local health ojcer. or from
the secretary OF the board at Boise"
DR.. George r.. Hyde Of Rexburg.
president of the board; Or. w. r.
Hamilton Of Weiser. Attorney Gener-
al McDougall and State Engineer
Robinson. members of the board. are
doing their utmost to educate the
public regarding the menace OF this
dread disease, in order that an cpl
demic during the present hot wave
over the state, or during the rest Of
the summer and fall. may be pre-
vented
With the temperature on the street
IN the sun yesterday reaching 10 de-
grees while the mercury went to SO
in the shade, by the records taken
from recording thermometers. the
danger of infantile paralysis has vast
ly increased If the hot wave Is pro-
longed, it is feared that many cases
viii be reported
In discussing the matter. Or. Falk
said that every case OF infantile
poralysis. or epidemic anterior pole
iomyelitis must be reported to the
local health officer at once, and the
patient shall be Isolated for at least
three weeks. The discharges from the
nose. throat and mouth Of the patient
must be received on cloths and bunr-
ed at once. After death OF recovery
OF the patient, all personal cloth
ing and bedding together with the
contents OF the room itself. must be
thoroughly disinfected under the SUI
pervision Of the local health officer.
In case Of death a public funeral or
viewing Of the remains Of the deceas-
ed must be positively forbidden.
It is a well established fact that the
infectious material is found in the
secretions OF the nose and mouth OF
afflicted persons, and the state board
therefore. recommends the use OF
sprays and gargles Of 10 per cent so
luton of hydrogen peroxide to pre-
vent the further spread OF the disease.
All discharges from the patient
should be disinfected by means OF BIZ
chloride Of mercury, carbolic acid
and chloride Of lime.
Dr. Falk gives sanitary precautions
to be observed in the care OF cases OF
spinal paralysis. The patient should
be placed IN a clean, bare. welI-ven-
tilated room. which is screened 20
keep out insects. The rest of the fam
ily must either 6e kept at home. or
cleo .a0ro0atod and not allowed to