El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-21
HE latest, but by no means the
least disease to menace health IS

He latest, but by no means the
least disease to menace health IS
the comparatively modern infant
lie paralysis. which. since the opening
OF the present century has been almost
world wide in its scope and manifesto
lions. 1t has occurred with especial
virulence in the United States For
several decades the disease has ragged
In Scandinavian countries, whence un-
doubtedly it was transmitted to our
eastern shores by means of immigra-
ton In 1S41 there was an epidemic
OF infantile paralysis in New Orleans:
thence onward the few cases were
merely sporadic and not particularly
noticeable. But 1905 witnessed a dead
~ outbreak in Sweden, Australia was
visited in 1903 and 1908, and Germany
in 1909
Many Thousands of Cases.
In the United States since 1907 there
have been, many thousands of cases.
New York City alone had $500 cases
In 1907. Pennsylvania reported 65S
cases In As counties in 1910. and in the
region around Springfield, Massachu-
setts, IN May and June of 1910 there
were ESQ cases. and 100 deaths. Hart
ford. Boston, Seattle. Des Moines,
washington, D. c., and the Scandina-
Wan settled parts of Minnesota, re-
ported serious epidemics with an
alarming proportion Of deaths. The
worst time seems to be the warmer
months Of the year. The scourge usual
ly disappears with the advent Of cold
weather. The focus of Infection seems
to have been. in 1907 along the east
seaooard and in such receiving ports
for Scandinavian immigration as New
York and Boston
Is Generally Acufa
As the name implies infantiIe paraIy-
SIS attacks children and adolescents,
rfvaling in its deadly results those
twin scourges of childhood-diptheria
and scarlet fever. Expressed in popu-
lar terms the disease is characterized
by an acute Inflammation Of the spinal
cord, bringing about partial or total
paralysis of certain muscles and nerves
Wnlcn shrivel, dry up. and atrophy
1olloWed by death. If checked in time
recovery Of the affected centers will
usually ensue, although the little ns
tlents may suffer from stunted growth
retarded muscular development curva-
ture OF the spine, "drop-foot," and gen
orally impaired bodily nutrition. Eight
10 10 percent Of those attacked die. and
20 percent Of those who survive are
more or less crippled for life The
disease is generally acute. attacking in
rants and children from one to five
years of age, although several cases
among youths and maidens between 16
and "a have been known Deaths from
lnfantile paralysis as late as the ages
OF so and SO have been recorded. In
1910 there were four cases OF infantile
paralysis among students at Princeton
university which aroused much atten-
ton.
The symptoms Of incubation. espe-
c1alIy among little ones who cannot
describe their sufferings, are marked
peevishness, restlessness and irritable
lty-or the direct reverse. an almost
stolid and stodgy apathy. When the
real attack begins there is sweating,
pain in the back and limbs. neckache
and headache. The child will not be
able to sit up nor hold up its head. In
many cases there are digestive disturb
ances Very shortly there supervenes
paralysis-perhaps with deIirium-es-
pecially in the leg muscles. A definite
group or muscles may be involved or