The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-14
FOUR NEW CASES !. OF THE |NFANT|LE PARALYSIS FOUND City Health Officer Nelson Explains Some Symptoms
 of the Malady TOTAL OF 15 CASES
 LOCATED IN CITY Physicians State That Sir Walter Scott Was Attacked With It in /
 Infancy and Remained
 Cripple

| Dr. Robert Nelson, city health officer, accompanied by Walter Burson, sanitary inspector, visited Pratt City and envlrons yesterday and found additional cases of
 the mysterious infantile paralysis. The | total number so far disclosed is 15, with new ones being found every few days. It
 is anticipated that with the cooperation of all physicians in pursuance of for
 nal request to report all cases, a greater watch may be maintained over the entire
 city.
 Dr. Nelson said yesterday when asked about the cases that they were not con- fined to one particular locality but were scattered over a wide area, but princi- pally near Pratt City. He said the chit dren were progressing as well could be expected and that only two deaths had mysterious malady.
 "The symptoms are not always the
 same, said pr. Nelson. Usually the
 malady is accompanied by a fever begin
 ming in the night time with constipation
 and some slight disturbances of the in-
 ternal organs. The child usually retains
 fever two or three days, after which the
 infantile paralysis is discovered to have left some limb useless and the patient lies
 helpless.
 "In Pratt City the cases are among
 whites and blacks as well. They are scat tered somewhat and see no sane reason
 why there should be declared any quar- pl. ,ol,x, ar
 of course, helpless to remedy the disease as no cure is yet known for It. It is
 not what is usually termed fatal illness but usually leaves the victim crippled
 permanently.
 'I am urging all the physicians to make
 ment of all cases. This Is being done. We
 are trying our very best to handle the situation successfully
 From discussion among physicians n was learned yesterday that infantile
 paralysis is a rather old disease. It is
 recalled that Sir Walter Scott was taken
 with it, and that noted poet and writer
 remained cripple his entire life from that
 cause. In his memoirs he points out that as a small boy he was seized with rag | ing fever which Hay him by the heels for four days. When he was enabled to l get up it was found that his legs were I limp and useless. He was d wholly incap- able cripple for many months when is
 became custom to carry him out on the | crags and rocks while the sheppards | tended their flocks. Becoming reckless tc | is recounted that he finally found that he could stand, then walk, and then run A healthy return came about but he never was in normal condition.
 | The cases at Pratt City 1t is said are I similar to that which inflicted Sir Walter Scott There has been lapse of many years since the discovery of the decease, 1 but as yet the physicians have found no l remedy The only true and accepted in- Lformation upon the malady is that it can l be communicated to one animal-a
 monkey. It is said that the malady is not 1 traceable even to insanitary conditions, flies or insect bites.
 The physicians here declare that one adult is confined In a local infirmary with the same identical malady. Tn Birmingham | if is stated that some cases have also developed. The situation, while alarming, l is not as bad as first reported. It is said that family physicians do not recommend | fleeing from the disease.