The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-21
REMEDY MAY Be FOUND
SCIENCE WILL VET DEFEAT. IN
FANTILE PARALYSIS,
Dread Disease, Caused by Germ, May
Be Prevented, Thinks DR.. Flexner

Be Prevented, Thinks DR.. FlexneI
of Rockefeller Institute.
Dr. Simon FleXner of the Rookie
feller institute declared. yesterday
that it has now been thoroughly es.
tablished that infantile paralysis, the
disease which has brought so mucn
harm among children in the last few
years, is a germ disease. The germ
it is true, is too small to be detected
by any microscope, but its presence
and nature have been established In
other ways through animal expert
mentation.
DR.. Flexner, who is, as rule, ST.
lent as to the discoveries made al
the institute of which he is a dl-
rector, consented TO make this state
ment yesterday TO the New York
Times in explanation of one OF the
arguments he brought forward at a
hearing at Albany last week In de-
tense of the use of animals in medi-
cal research. He then stated that
the means of the prevention of infan-
tile paralysis has already been estab-
lished, and that it might conserva-
lively be said that the achievement
of cure is not far distant.
"Infantile paralysis" said DR..
Flexner, "is a germ disease that at
tacks the spinal marrow and brain,
and by merely injuring or by totally
destroying the delicate tissues causes
either temporary or permanent par
alysis of the muscles.
"The germ of the disease has beeh
known for a little more than year.
1t is so excessively minute that the
most powerful microscope fails to re-
! veal it, and yet there are accurate
methods through the employment OF
which the nature and presence Of the
germ have been determined with GER
tainty.
"The proof that infantile paralysis
is a germ disease, and almost all our
accurate knowledge concerning the
nature of the disease" DR.. Flexner
went on, "has been secured through
experiments on animals, and could
probably have been obtained In no
other way.
where does the germ reside:'
the doctor was asked. cit is not
known to reside anywhere in nature,
he replied, except in connection
with human beings, who either have
had or have been in contact with
some one who has had infantile par
alysis, or in relation with some OBJ
ject in close association with patients
suffering from the disease"
"How is the disease spread?" was
the next question. "By persons sick
with the disease or by some one who
has been lin contact with n patient
suffering from the disease. The evil
dence at present available points to
the fact that the germ of the disease
can be carried by healthy persons
who have come in contact with the
sick and themselves will not contract
infantile paralysis, but who may
transfer the germ to other healthy
persons, who will develop the dis
ease"
DR.. Flexner went on to explain
that the germ of infantile paralysis
enters the brain and spinal cord
chiefly; il not exclusively, by way of
the nasal passages. In the course OF
the disease, he said, the germ is also
thrown off from the brain through
the nose and mouth. .
Hence, protection can be best se-
cured by disinfecting or destroying
the secretions of the rose and mouth
of those i'll of the disease, and by pre-
venting the contamination of persons
or objects with these secretions. Es-
pecial pains should be taken to main
tain in a state Of cleanliness the
hands, nose and mouth Of all chill
dren exposed to the disease, either
directly OF luQlreCIly.
For how long time is a patient
in danger of spreading the infec-
tion?" DR.. Flexner was asked.
"This question can not be an
swered with absolute precision at
present." he replied, "but it is be-
lieved that during the first three or
four weeks of the disease the danger
of transfer is greatest, and hence pa
tient should be carefully isolated
during this period and the discharges
from the nose and mouth carefully
disinfected or destroyed for the pc
riod, and, if possible, for many weeks
afterward.
There is reason for believing that
even after the acute symptoms OF the
disease have passed, the infection
may in some instances be still trans
mitted by the patient by means OF
the nasal secretions. 1t is for this
reason that the secretions should bc
cared for over longer period than
is embraced in the acute stages OF
the malady."
what are the main sources of in
fection?"
Infantile paralysis is chiefly a
disease of children, but it sometimes
attacks adults" Dr.. FleXner said
Since the germ causing it is carried
by those who have been i'll, as well as