Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-22

mont covering tho territory hardest hit
by poliomyelitis. and saw many cases and
prescribed treatment for them. In giving
a resume OF the Improvement since that
time he said, In part:
In 1894 Dr. G. S. Caverly gave n most
complete account Of an epidemic Of in
fantile paralysis which swept through
Vermont, there being in all 1872 cases,
which was then n record epidemic of the
disease in the world. In 1910 there was an
epidemic of 60 cases. in 1911 one of ~ in
1912 there were 10, in 1918 there were AZ
and in 1911 there WAS the terrible cpl
demic of 300 Up to that time the worst
epidemic on record was the one Of 1000
cases which occurred in New York. TAX
ing into consideration the population of
New York and that Of Vermont the cpl
demic in Vermont was twice as large as
that in New York, with the very high
mortality rate of II per cent
The attempt to solve the poliomyelitls
problem on the part of the state board,
which was made possible through the
generosity of an unknown donor. Is new
departure. When the cases we're seen in
the first clinics they were thoroughly ex-
amined ms described by Dr. Fraser.
|
the muscles on the charts we're marked
! III three ways, normal, partly paralyzed
and totally paralyzed. OF the 1ij2 mus
jclcs affected In the patients examined
only 4l6 were found to he totally para
lived. with 1,o36 partly affected This pro.
portion of two and onc-half to one is very
hopeful. Where braces were necessary
they were ordered and operations were
tod 81
physicians were advised as to the muscle
exercises which should he used and wher
seen in the last clinics several were founc
to he practically recovered. with only s
slight trace of paralysis left and all hac
made some progress towards recovery
These results are extremely encourag D.
! although the patients who had not fol
LEVIED DR.. Lovetts treatment did no
snow UP the second time.
After the patient has passed the acut
stage OF the disease and the period o
tenderness in the muscles he should b
, gotten onto his feet At first lie Wi
not no able to stand. as the muscles 4
, the back of the knee are very susceptibl
to paralysis, and then the child. afte
having been in bed for two or thre
? months, will have to learn all over acai
= the art Of balancing He must next lear
y, t" Use clutches, which induces activit
q through all the muscles OF the bod,
& While electricity may he useful in som
cases and massage is helpful MS a NEAR
y of stimulating the circulation and in
= proving the tone of the body, the latt,
y may I've overdone. which should be :,
c curelv guarded against Muscle trainin
. would seem to be the best means Of II
n covering tho use Of the muscles: that |
q exercising the muscles themselves, h,
the greatest care must be used to n,
d overdo this as cases have been know
= where too strenuous exercise has r.
q suited in tho recovery of tho muscl
for a time and afterwards their emit
= loss, Care should be used not to beg
g. exercises too soon. Where deformity g
lists II should be removed by an oper
tiOn. This treatment IS for the cas-
r between those who are too Young
lie help themselves and those which ha
,s been crippled for years.
e DR.. F.. G, Martin assistant profess
,e in the physiological department of Ha
10 ward. followed DR.. L.ovett and told of (
ar work which has been done TO estabi
r. a scale whereby muscle strength mi
Of be measured. It Is done by having t
err child pull against an ordinary spring b'
Sc ance This tests the muscle groups.
al drcn from four to l6 years Of age h
N been fixed, and work Is being done on
l. similar scale for the arm.