Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-06

about Ave years ago. Since then 1t NJ
tered communities. A hundred thouss
1905, Of whom probably two in every
Pied What is known of this frightfu
thruout the country. IL told by DR.. Nc
ming was secretary of the West Wisct
charge Of the work Of stamping out II
the methods for prevention and the b.
contagion. The article is of copyright
printed from the December number o
special permission].
Rssuits Of the Rockefeller institute Ex-
psrimsnts.
Virus taken from this first monkey
victim produced the same disease thru
twenty five relays and these apes. AT
first an emulsion OF the spinal cord OF
a dead victim was introduced inside the
brain by an operation. Later the Vir-
us was placed in the stomach with the
same result.
AS the experiments advanced, and 1t
became evident that the mucous lining
Of the nose and throat absorbed the
poison, some OF the secretion from the
nose and throat of an infected monkey
were rubbed on the nose Of another
monkey with the same result-the dis
ease was communicated 1t was found
that the virus could be transmitted
even by inhaling strong EN- ulsion OF
the poison. These experiments demons
strated:
First-fhe infectious nature of poll
omyelitis.
Second-The contagious nature OF
poliomyelitis.
Third-The presence of the contagion
i'll the secretions Of the nose.
Fourth-That the nasal secretions of
a case Of polimyelitis would produce
the disease in another animal
F'ifth-That an animal or child was
most apt to contract the disease, IT its
lips, mouth. or nose came into con-
tact with the secretions of the mouth
or nose of a victim already suffering
from the disease.
Investigators in many laboratories.
both in Europe and America, are en-
deavoring to produce serum when
will render a person who has been eN-
posed to infection immune to the dis
ease. and which will prevent the on
coming paralysis in a victim, If used
in the earliest. stage of the disease.
From some investigator or laboratory,
in time. will come an antitoXin as eff
fective as the diphtheria anttoxin.
Infantile paralysis is not new dis
ease but it is a new danger. Cases of
the disease were described as long ago
as 1852.
DR. Colmer, a physician in West
Feliciana. Louisiana. in 1S41 reported
an epidemic of infantile paralysis. but
there was no general recognition of the
fact. In 1881 a. Swedish physician. DR..
Bergenholz. recognized and described
an outbreak Of the disease in the town
of Umea in North Sweden. affecting
thirteen cases. In 1894 the first serious
epidemic in America occurred at and
near Rutland. Vermont. DIR. G. s.
Caverly. since president of the Vermont
State Medical Society. reporting 12G
cases In the quarter century between
1881 and 1906. forty five outbreaks were
reported, with an average OF about
twenty two cases each. Most OF these
epidemics occurred in Scandinavia. al
tho southern Europe. the United states
and even Australia suffered.
These epidernics appeared at such
Irregular intervals and in such remote
areas that the world of medicine was
ignorant Of the cause Of the malady. its
method Of transmission. and It's preven-
tive or curative treatment
Spread Of the Epidemic.
In the north of Europe there are two
little countries. Norway and Sweden
from which there is yearly great tide
Of emigration to the upper Mississippi
valley During the summer OF 100"
Norway was visited by an epidemic. the
victims of which frequently suffered
paralysis Of one or more extremities. 1t
returned in the summer of 1904. had
increase to menacing proportions IN the
summer OF 1905. and in 1906 devastated
many children who had not previously
succumbed.
The geometrical progression OF cases
and deaths in these four summers was
notable The Norwegian government
became alarmed. commission Of
scientists was appointed. and a careful
report Of all cases was compiled by
Prof. Francis Harbitz. Of the Univer-
sity Of Christiania. During those four
wears, in Norway and Sweden there oc-
Cured 2,164 cases: the mortality rate
was 1873 per cent, while large number
of children and adults were left with
paralyzed extremities. DR.. Harbitx
stated in his report: THE disease was
plainly contagious, and spread along
lines Of communication"
During the summer OF 1907. New
York City paid the penalty Of being the
principal port Of entry from Europe
In that summer there were $500 cases
In the city, reported by Dr. Allen Starr
professor of neurology in Columbia
University. There was an extension OF
the disease on Long Island and up the
| Hudson. with outbreaks at Dubois and
Ridgway Pennsylvania. At the same
time there were twos mall outbreaks
in Michigan. and Wisconsin. each in
communities which received immi-
grants from Scandinavia
A DEVILS Ring.
| One case in territory previously
free from the disease will be followed
by a devils ring OF contiguous cases
Notable proof OF this fact is the history
Of the epidemic in Nebraska in 1909. A
child convalescing from an acute attack
came to Stromburg in the middle OF
| May On the lst day of May the first
new case was reported. By July 1, there
| were thirty cases. The danger was not
| recognized by the public, and there
was no way to stop a great Fourth Of
July celebration which had been plan
ned. People came from the surround
ing country and from distant parts OF
the state to this celebration.
- s%-H.A ell