Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-12
"Prevention Without Panic Is
Aim of U. S. Public
Health Service.
EXPERTS IN CONFERENCE
ON INFANTILE PARALYSIS
Dr.. Frost Says Cases Elsewhere in
the Nation Cannot Be Traced
to New York.

Further important measures for the
prevention of the spread to other COM
munties of the infantile paralysis epi-
demic in New York are to be taken i'm
mediately by the public health service
as result of a conference this morn
ing between DIR. William C. Rucker. as
sistant surgeon general, who has him
self been investigating the epidemic in
New York; Passed Assistant Surgeon
Wade H. Frost, the poliomyelitis ex-
pert of the department, who has been
summoned from Cincinnati, and DR.. Z.
A. Sweet, who is in general charge of
the bureaus campaign for prevention.
Prevention without panic" is the
services concern about the spread of
the epidemic made today by DIR. Ruck-
er. He made it clear that the service is
not alarmed but that it is concern
ed and making every effort to prevent
the spread of the contagion on account
of the unprecedented sweep of the dis
ease in New York. He said that every
possible effort is being made by the
public health service not only to pre-
vent the epidemic jumping to other To-
calities, but for the investigators of the
service to learn all they can about this
disease, which has for many years been
a battling mystery.
That money is greatly needed for the
service to perform it's most valuable
function in prevention is emphasized by
DR.. Rucker. who points out that even
with the $135,000 asked from Congress
by Secretary McAdoo only $4,000 will
be available for the very important
work of interstate prevention work.
On Way to Help New York.
The hopeful view of the service is
expressed by DR.. Frost. who is on his
way to give expert advice in handling
the New York situation. While we
feel spre that we are going to have
epidemics in other localities, we are
confident that they will be relatively
few and that we will be able to hold
them to narrow limits and prevent
widespread Infection"
AS evidence of good cause for such
o.
railroad center in direct rail commu-
nication with other large places that
have had epidemics. has always es-
capped. He said that because the pub
lie health service is receiving daily re-
ports from many places of cases of in
fantile paralysis this is only because
the health authorities have been spe-
clally asked to report each case, and not
because there is any unusual wide
spread general sweep of the disease
myelitis at all times in all parts of the
country he said, and it is not fair at
this time to trace these scattered cases
to New York origin"
Nationwide caution and general OBJ
servance of suggestions for precautionary
measures, with isolation of any sporadic
cases, will ease the situation wonderfully.
he thinks, and he points to this wider
education Of the public as one of the most
nope1ui aspects OF the epdemc. DIR.
FROST and DR.. Rucker both emphas size
the other hopeful fact that the effects
Of poliomyelitis-the paralysis and
contractions-have during the last ten
years been found to be remediable.
Before the disease was as well known
as 1t is today such cases of paralysis
and contractions were considered hope
less In the last decade it has been
found that with proper surgical treat
ment theJ gradually can be improved
even after several years. and these au-
thorities advise all victims to continue
treatment, with the confident assurance
that such Affections can be corrected.
DIR. Sweets Recommendations.
Recommendations prepared by DIR. E.
A. Sweet, assistant to DR.. Rucker, which
are being given widespread publicity
through health officials in all parts of the
United States, covering what communi-
ties can do to prevent an epidemic of in
fantile paralysis and what should be done
in individual cases when victim has
been discovered. are follows:
ITO control the present epidemic of in
fantile paralysis, the chain of infection
between persons harboring germs of the
munity should be broken. Infantile
paralysis is probably caused by very
minute organism found in the nasal,
mouth and bowel discharges of those who
the germ without themselves suffering
from the ailment. All of the steps In the
spread of the infection are not known,
but If this germ can be prevented from
passing from the infected to the well per-
son the disease will cease
"Infantile paralysis is not disease of
recent origin. Sporadic or scattered cases
have occurred throughout the country for
many years. but 1t is only during the last
decade that the infection has assumed
epidemic proportions in the United States
The present epidemic in New York city
on account Of its magnitude and yiru-
lence has awakened the residents of many
communities to the danger of the impor-
tstion of the disease into their own midst
This danger is real, but if due precautions
are exercised it is believed that the epi-
demic will subside
Actual Control for Officials.
THE actual control Of the present epi
demc must be left to the city, state and
federal health authorities. These or
ganizations will properly quarantine and
care for affected persons. prescribe sani-
tary measures and limit as may be nee
essary the travel of individuals In order
to protect neighboring districts from the
infection Individuals and communities.
protection.
"Poiiomyelitis is probably spread di-
rectly or indirectly. through the medium
of nfective secretions. Account must.
therefore. be taken by communities of
every means by which such secretions
are disseminated. Promiscuous expectora
ton should be controlled. The common
drinking cup affords a method for the
interchange of material of this nature
and should. therefore, be abolished. Rigid
cleanliness OF glasses and utensils at
soda fountains. in saloons and other
public places should be enforced. Flies.
nth h1