El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-21

out one extremity, or the trunk. or
the upper extremities Permanent mar
aIys1s usually affects the legs. rarely
the arms Perhaps the paralysis is
preceded by muscular twitchfngs. and
senshlveness when touched Other
symptoms, such as squint. will vary
according TO the parts of the nervous
system affected Blood changes are
Harked IN this disease. Infantile par
alysis has often been mistaken for
meningitis and for rheumatism.
Disease is Infectious
For some years physicians differed
as 10 the primary causes of infantiIe
paralysis, some maintaining that the
olsease was spread wholly by infection.
others holding that previous nishaps
sucneas falls, measles. Group and the
IKE gave rise to LESSONS which pre-
disposed the luskless youngster TO n
ATTACK OF the new disorder. But grad
uaIiy, and in the light of wider expert
ence, the latter named supposedly pre-
dlsposing causes have been eliminated.
incubation by Infection is now consid-
cred 10 be the chief cause. although
some or the many diseases incidental
10 childhood may leave the system in
weakened condition and unable to
rlght off the virus of infantile paraIy-
Sis 1t is known also that the virus
may be carried by well persons from
the injected to the uninfected. and as
the period Of incubation varies from
i've TO 80 days 1t becomes quite clear
tnat immigrants from infected districts
may and frequently do transfer the
disease across the Atlantic before its
detection through quarantine examin-
alton or detention becomes possible
American doctors who have had the
opportunity to watch the course Of ept-
denies Of infantile paralysis have de-
cloed that the poison may be con-
veyed by the bites OF insects, by dust.
or through swimming or bathing in
sewage contaminated waters. Observ-
ers nave noted that an epidemic or
olstemper among domestic animals
chickens and the like, was closely fol-
lowed by an outbreak of fnfantf1e
paralysis among human beings near at
hand. There. Of course, the already
Wen known fact that plague virus NAV
De and usually is carried by rats. dogs
cats, squirrels and fleas, is again borne
out Also 1t should be borne in mind
that infection may proceed from the
secretions and discharges from the
nose, throat and mouth Of affected per-
sons, and experience has already album
DAINTY proved that the children of the
poor, housed in .unsanitary tenements
more i
bic to develop cases of infantfle mar
alysfs than the little ones of the more
well to do.
In some states infantile paralysis
has been made a reportable disease
like scarlet fever, measles and dfphtbe-
ria This rule should be uniform and
compulsory everywhere. Infected prem
ises should be quarantined for at least
TWO weeks, and then thoroughly disin-
fected.
Is the ChiIdren's Plague.
Infantfle paralysis has been well
and ominously named "the chiIdren's
plague Since 1905 actually gathered
statistics show that 100, 900 little ones
in this country alone have been At
tackled OF these two in every ten
died and probably six more-6O percent
OF the whole number-were more or
less crippled or malformed for life
These figures are for the actually re-
ported and diagnosed cases. How MANY
more there were, unrecognized or set