The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-11-24
MONEY DONATED TO
PROBE POLIOMYELITIS
Unnamed Donor Mokes 1t Possible for
Vermont State Board of Health to
Bring DR.. Simon Flexner to
the Rockefeller Institute
to Investigate.

Rutland, Nov. 24.--The reason why a
prompt and effectual cure for polio
myelitis Cnfantile paralysisl cannot at
once be discovered, according to DIR.
Simon Flexner of the Rockefeller insti-
tute, New York, Is because it is i'm
possible to treat the brain, spinal cord
and greater nerve centers of the body
with powerful germ killers, as might be
possible in the liver, Kidneys or other
organs of the body.
| Pending the discovery Of serum that
might render the human system immune
from the scourge which has stricken
down 2S3 Nermonters during the past
year and caused the death of AZ persons,
DIR. Flexner, who met last night with
the state board Of health in this city,
recommended preventive measures.
"Thc disease can be prevented" said
the distinguished bacteriologist, "and in
| time we may discover method for prop
agating the disease ii animals in order
to secure a serum, but just now we know
only that the disease is communicative.
We know how il is communicated and
we have isolated the germ. We have
also separated the substance which
persons system cultivates when be final
ly conquers the germ and makes re-
covery, but we cannot use this from one
person to another.
1T would not be practical BILE So far
we have not been able to induce the dis
ease in animals as they do not seem to
be susceptible. And so, pending the
discovery of treatment, we can only urge
on all physicians the Importance of in
forming themselves IN regard to the dis
ease and of prompt report and quaran-
tine OF infected cases.
"Poliomyelitis is communicated by
means Of the saliva hnd the discharges
from the nose. Children contract the |
disease, infect their hands. their hands |
infect their parents and others, and the |
infection is carried to the mouth or nose
and so spreads rapidly unless the cases
are strictly isolated.
Il should say that Vermont has made |
progress in treating the disease, not
the fact that there were
more cases in this state than ever before.
Physicians and health officers are learn
ing more about it. Patients and people
in infected districts understand better
what it means and your state board Of
health is doing excellent work in the
line of prevention and isolation,
Spinal meningitis is an entirely diff
ferent disease. 1t affects the membranes
Of the BRAIN spinal cord and nerve cen
ters, and is a winter disease, while polio
nyelitis affects the centers themselves
md is a summer disease. Poliomyelitis
) very deep.seated and obscure disease
md the infections only reach the surface
through the seeretions from the throat.
SO you see we cannot treat it as we
night a disease which does not affect
uch delicate and vital life centers. 1t is
cry difficult to see the germ to begin :
With, but any physician may diagnose .
rs ease at once by use of a laboratory. ,
his is done by means Of reagents, how
yer, not by the microscope" ;
The State Boards Activity. 1
The state board of health is ready to I
make searching investigation of causes =
I poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis
nd, when sufficient information is at ,
and, TO make determined stand
gainst the disease. A considerable sum
{ money from private source not
amed has been placed at the disposal of
he board and yesterday afternoon and S
lst night Dr. Simon FleNner of the
ockefeller institute of New York was
conference with the entire state board
/ the Berwick hotel in this city. As is
ell known, he has made what is con
dered a beginning toward complete q
OF the disease and came ~
} Vermont not only to talk over plans q
it'll the health authorities but 20 OBJ NJ
rye at first hand and hear from men &C
no had been obliged 10 treat the all U
ent extensively. Tie will continue to e
wise the board in regard TO the study "
poliomyelitis in Vermont and has
sced the facilities Of the institute At
u disposal Of Nermont's supreme
alth body. The exact details Of ~
e campaign have not yet been worked
The fund that i now placed al the dis
sal Of the state board is for the pur- Of
se Of seeking some method of prevent ri
z a repetition Of this years serious VI
tbreak and FOR remedying A. far a. ia
ssiblc the orthopedic disabilities left he
re as marks Of the rayaEcs Of the dis bC
se. To this end the hest advice OBJ. fol
inable as to the best method III treat DO
z the deformities left behind viii b. tir
tanned fai