Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-09-24
THINK WILL Be NO MORE
inf PARALYSIS CASES
Such is the Opinion of State
Sanitary Inspector
Careful Quarantine Regulations and
Change in Weather Believed to
Have Removed Danger.

The cases of infantile paralysis
| which have been accomplishing such
dire results in this county have occa-
stoned much alarm both in the city
and surrounding country. There have
been seven cases in the city and about
as many more in the country, but so
far only two deaths-t those of Jacob
Wieland, of Hurricane and Harold
Mccoy of this city. In each of the
other cases which did not result
fatally the patients have been SC
crippled as to make it almost as bad
as death.
Since the death of DR.. Ralph II.
Kinney, last June. the city has had
no health officer until about two
weeks ago. when DR.. Rush Godfrey
was appointed to that position by the
city council.
Many of our citizens have become
quite alarmed-and justly so-over'
the spread of his terrible disease, and
the matter was reported to the states
board of health.
On Thursday DR.. L. E. Spencer, of:
Wausau, Wis, state sanitary in
spector working under the direction
of the state board of health, came to-
Lancaster to inquire into the matter,
and advised that rigid quarantine
be observed wherever the disease is
known to exist, and that particular
care be taken to see that all doors and
windows in the infected homes be
carefully screened against flies, as the
disease is a contagious one and there
is much doubt as to the manner in
which the contagion is spread, but
experience elsewhere has led to
the belief that to great extent it is
carried by the flies from place to-
place.
DR.. Spencer stated that in one town
in northern Wisconsin last year there
were sixty cases during August and
early September the disease becom-
ing epidemic. Eighteen cases proved
fatal. Then came hard frost that
killed the flies, after which no new
cases were reported.
1t is also claimed that the germ
has been found especially virulent
during the hot and dry weather such
as we have been experiencing the
latter part of this summer. with the
air laden with dust. 1t is thought
that the recent wet and cold weather
is the most fortunate thing that could
have happened and that in all pro-
liability with proper care coupled
with quarantine, the disease can now
be stamped out without spreading any
further.
DR.. Spencer states that the Grant
county cases-those in Lancaster and
Platteville and their vicinity-are
the only ones that have been reported
to the state board.
The earlier symptoms are said to
resemble those of la grippe-pain in
the head and back. headache, soreness
of the throat etc. The disease usual
ly runs its course in about two weeks
and after the third week if the patient
survives he will not communicate il
to others
Speaking of the disease as it has
appeared in other states the Medical
Record issues a warning that public
health authorities should be on the
alert to see that all cases are re-
ported. 1t further says that there is
unerring indication proving the
biennial periodicity of the disease
during the hot months of the present
summer. In 1907 New York state
experienced the widespread ravages of
the disease in 1000 cases, where ib
had previously been known only in
sporadic cases. In 1909 and again in
1911 the disease assumed epidemic
virulence, so it may be expected every
every alternate year until stamped out.
Announcement was made last
March at John Hopkins university
by DR.. Flexner. of Rockefeller in
sti tute, that he had discovered the
cause Of the disease and that it would
undoubtedly result In the early dis
covery of an anti toxin, but if suck
has been found it is not yet known
here.