The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-05-19
Minnesota State Board of Health

into the cause and transmission Of
acute anterior poliomyelitis, also
called infantile paralysis and epidemic
paralysis, justify the State Board Of
Health in offering the following ad-
vice for the care of children during
the coming summer.
Children from ten years old down
are more susceptible than children
above this age. over three-fourths Of
the cases being under ten years of
age. Ali ages suffer however, even
adults. The most susceptible age is
from one to five years, the next. under
one year, and the next from six to ten
years. Although adults are not often
attacked, nearly one-half of those
adults attacked die. Taking all ages
and both sexes about one-fifth die.
1t would appear that the best pre-
ventives for children are:
l. To watch the diet, giving only
reasonable quantities of wholesome
nutritious food, especially avoiding
anything likely to upset the stomach,
poor milk, unripe fruit or vegetables,
etc., or even ripe fruit and vegetables
if they have been exposed to dust.
2. To watch exercise. preventing
any excessive effort or fatigue, even at
play, particularly in the sun and in
hot weather.
3. TO watch the bowels; avoiding
constipating foods, or sluggishness of
the bowels from any cause. Secure by
treatment if need be, free excavations
daily.
5. To watch association with dust,
especially the dust of city streets,
country roads, barnyards, stables,
etc. No health measure relating to
this disease should be more rigidly en-
forced during this coming summer
than the careful soaking mot merely
sprinkling) of streets, roads, barn
yards, and other open places. where
animals, especially horses, wander.
S. To watch the children do not
play on the streets, even after the
streets are we'll sprinkled. Sprinkling
only vets the dust and keeps it from
wide distribution. If the germ is in
the dry dust it is probably in the wet
dust; and if the wet dust is tracked
ito the house for creeping children to
get on their hands and so into their
mouths, the disease may be convey
ed to them. Flies should be avoided
as much as possible.
6. To watch the children's play
mates and to avoid even distant as
ISOLATION with other children sick
with this disease or with anything
resembling it; or with the members,
including adults, of families in which
the disease exists.
I. To watch the sick children them
selves. Confine them to their own
premises; destroy or disinfect the dis
charge of the throat, nose, bladder
and bowel; prevent their association
with anyone but an attendant who
does nothing but care for them; in
case of death, allow private funeral
only.
Remember rest as preventive and
treatment.
8. In the event of any child show
Ing the symptoms. which are usual to
the beginning of an attack of poliom-
yelitis fever, headache, pain, con-
stipation, vomiting) remember that
while these symptoms may mean
nothing but passing disturbance,
they may be the first stages of poliom-
yelitis; call physician at once, and
meantime keep the child quiet, If
the child seems to recover almost
wholly in two or four days, do not
remit watchfulness, for in .poliom-
yelitis the initial symptoms, after
lasting two to four days, often disap-
pear for day or two, to be followed
then by return of the symptoms and
paralysis. Therefore do not suppose
that the trouble is all over, when the
fever, vomiting, headache, ETC., cease
in such cases, but rather redouble
your attention to diet, light exercise
only. prevention of fatigue or excite
ment, exposure to sun, dust ETC., for
at least week. If the symptoms in
dicated only passing disturbance,
those precautions can do no harm but
only good, while if the symptoms
were really preliminary symptoms Of
paliomyelitis, the rest and care con-
tinued after they abate may favorably
modify the subsequent attack. per-
haps making it possible for the child
to escape serious paralysis and even
death.
9. 1t is likely, from the data COL
lected in many different countries
and in the different states in this
country, that there will be a repeti-
tion in greater or less degree, In Min
nesota of the outbreak of last year.
But history shows that the outbreaks
will probably be chiefly in districts
not affected last year.
10. AS good citizens, help in every
way all measures to prevent wide
spread trouble during this summer
from this disease. Insist that cases
which occur are promptly reported to