The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-20
Proved That Virus of Infantile
Paralysis Is Carried by
Healthy Persons.

New York January 1o.-Dr- simon
Flexner. director of the Rockefeller
Institute for Medical Research, has
demonstrated that healthy individuals
sometimes carry the virus of epidemic
poliomyelitis. Infection therefore,
may be spread ~ such persons
Healthy persons who carry around the
germs Of disease in this manner are
known in the medical profession as pas
sive human carriers
This new light on infantile paralysis
isIpubIished IN the current issue OF Tne
Journal of the American Medical Asso-
citation. and appears as Dr. Flexner
fourteenth pu blished note on the disease
He was assisted in the experiments
which substantiated his opinion by
Paul r Clark. Phi D., and Francis H.
Fraser. NJ b. whose names appear as
Joint authors with him of the note
BEFORE recording the details OF the
experiments confirming q belief In the
existence of passive infantile paralysis
carries the writer's give these explana-
tions
THE manner of conveyance OF the
virus of polionyelitis TO injected per
.ons is not yet wholly worked out
The presence Of the virus mas peeh es
"a blished on the mucous mem brane OF
the nose. throat. and intestines of per-
sons i'll of poliomyelitis. and on the
mucous membrane of the nose ana
throat of monkeys in which the disease
has been produced experimentaily
Aside from infected persons ana
MONKEYS. the virus has once been touhu
in external nature. namely. IN sweepihss
obtained from "a room in which patients
9TH poliorn veliris had recently been
kent f\eustaedter and Throo- Inc
latter finding indicates that the virus Is
csDabI of leaving the infected BODY IN
"A manner that permits Of its persistence
a dust Since the virus has been
shown to occur frequently. II not con-
sfan.iv. IN the discharges OF the hose
and throat. u is clear that IL must es-
80 into the surroundings OF the in
fec,ed where. when dried, 1t would re-
tain il activity for a considerable
period Of time.
"Clfntcai observation has awarded
a definite role to healthy human car
r;crs Of the poliomyclitis injection.
b,,. thus FAR indubitablc experimental
ACCOMMODATION Of the occurrence OF
such passive carriers has not been
brought The obstacles in the way
~ nc demonstration are considerable
-. no. tnsupcrable Since the virus
-. l.svc the infected body b. the
,.ssf and buccai mouth dichargeS.
A. A. 10 be presumed that - carried
and transmitted a. an pE h'dtht
ucraons o. would be through the me
dunn Of these discharges
..This definition does not include
tho -oilcd hands. objects. etc. from
beiog also q means Of transportation
--bc Investigation % the discharges
r,cnfioned offers the resdiest oppor-
funifv 20 determine tho presence Of
the virus We possess a. present one
means only Of detecting the virus. and
.bat IL IL impiantation on monkeys
\, which b. b. capable OF producine
an governmental form Of poioirnyelitis
rcscn,biina IN All essential respects
,tc spontaneous disease. 80 called
occurring 90 man.
Considerable difficulties. however
surround the initial impiantation OF the
virus on monkeys. Even when the hu-
man spinal cord. derived from recent
fatal case Of poliomyelitls In man. q
ernploved for inocuiation, the expert
mental infection has not always been
produced. We nov know that the initial