Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-04-20

aud in destroying all discharges from
nose and throat.
Health officers and physicians
should always remember that the dis
ease is contagious and quarantine
BILE.
In the summer, and especially
during the presence of known cases
in a community, physicians should
lie alert to the possibility of "abor-
tive" cases. Children and young
adults who present "grippy" or
rheumatic " symptoms, or who have
any vague febrile attack should be
regarded with suspicion.
WHAT INFANTILE PARALYSIS is.
DR.. Charles W. Kidder, health
officer of Woodstock. has prepared
an article on infantile paralysis, it's
symptoms, results, etc, also giving
some suggestions for it's treatment
or prevention. From this article the
following is taken:
Acute anterior poliomyelitis, or
infantile paralysis, is an acute con-
tagious disease whose poison or virus
has particular predilection for the
nervous tissues of the spinal cord and
also sometimes affects the different
parts of the brain.
The disease is essentially one of
infancy, but adults are not exempt
/ The person attacked first complains
of feeling i'll, has coated tongue, loss
of appetite, and disturbances of
digestion The disease is then gen-
orally ushered in with fever, with
perhaps vomiting. One of the first
prominent symptoms is an extreme
and early prostration. The child may
be absolutely helpless before there is
any sign of paralysis. Profuse sweat
ing is also noted in many of these
cases, but this may be due to great
lebility.
Pain of varying intensity is gem
orally present from the beginning Of
the disease and is due to infamma-
ton of different nerves. Coldness of
the surface of the body is quite char
acteristic and is noticed over the
parts later to he paralyzed. There is
often rash-which may be OF differ
ent kinds, shapes and colors.
Paralysis generally occurs in two
or three days, but may not be noticed
for ten or twelve days, and usually
attacks certain groups of muscles |
which are closely associated, such as
one or both legs or the arm and a
leg, but may be quite widespread
over the body.
PREVENTION.
The early diagnosis of infantile
paralysis is extremely important.
though it is sometimes difficult 1t
is believed by many that the germ
gains entrance to the body through |
the nose. so II physician be called
early it may be possible to spray the
nose out with an antiseptic solution
and so stop the disease before there
is any sign of paralysis.
Infantile paralysis is commnnica-
BILE, but is very slightly contagious
1t in very strictly quarantined in
Vermont and in some other states,
80 every case should be reported to
the health officer Immediately
The disease is communicable from
one person 60 another, but it is very |
rarely directly communicable. con-
iagious) } that is to say, by contact Of
sick child with healthy one In
the various epidemics there have
been only few instances indicating |
that this does occur
The disease is communicated indi
rectly without any doubt through the
medium Of carrier, which may be
another human being or a lower
animal. but probably in most in
stances is an insect.
There are few insects which are
possible carriers, mosquitoes, flies,
gnats and Aeas OF all these, the aea
seems to be the one that could do
the best.
1t is, therefore, extremely impor
tant that children who live in infect
ed regions should not be allowed .,
play with cats or dogs that are
infested with fleas.
Dust also is said TO be carrier.
Therefore, in the prevention Of
infantile paralysis. the child should