Connecticut western news., 1916-07-20
TO CURB SPREAD SAYS NOTED DOCTOR
Susceptibility to Plague Low- CT Than In Measles and
 Scarlet Fever"


 not only the frankly paralyzed cases, but also the other forms of the disease.
 "In the event of doubtful diagnosis the aid of the laboratory is to be sought, since even in the mildest cases changes will be detected in the cere- brospinal fluid removed by lumbar puncture. If the effort is to be made to control the disease by isolation and segregation of the i'll. then these means must be made as inclusive as possible. 1t Is obvious that in certain homes isolation can he carried out as effectively as in hospitals.
 "In the end the early detection and isolation of the cases of infantile pa- ralysis in all of its forms. with the at- tendant control of the households from which they come, will have to he relied upon as the chief measure of staying the progress of the epidemic.
 "Fifth.-The degree of susceptibility of children and other members of the community to infantile paralysis is rel atively small and is definitely lower than to such communicable diseases as measles. scarlet fever and dinhtheria. This fact in itself constitutes meas ure of control, and while it does not justify the abatement of any practical ble means which may he employed to limit and suppress the epidemic. it should tend to prevent state of over anxiety and panic from taking hold of the community.
 Death Percentage Varies.
 "Sixth.-A percentage of persons, children particularly, die during the acute stage of the disease. This per centage varies from five in certain se- were epidemics to twenty in others. The average death rate of many epi- denies has been below 10 per cent. A reported high death rate may not be actual, but only apparent, since in every instance the death will be re- corded. while many cases which recov- CT may not he reported at all to ths authorities. In the present instance it is too early in the course Of the epi- demic to calculate the death rate, which may prove to be considerably lower than 1t now seems to he.
 "Seventh-Of those who survive q part make complete re"overies. in which no cripp'ing whatever remains. This number is greater than is usually supposed. because ii includes not only the relatively large number of slight or abortive cases, but also consider able number of cases in which more or less of paralysis was present at one time. The disappearance of the pa ralysis may be rapid or rralual-may be complete in a few days or may re- quire several weeks or months.
 "The remainder. and unfortunately not n small number. suffer some de- gree of permanent crippling. But even in this class the extent to which recov- cry from the paralysis may occur is very great, In many instances the residue of paralysis may bc SO small as not seriously to hamper the life activities of the individual: in others in whom it is greater it may be reliev- ed or minimized by suitable orthopedic treatment.
 No Ground For Early Despair.
 But what it Is imperative to keep in mind is that the recovery of paralyzed parts and the restoration of lost mus cular power and function is n process which extends over n long period of time-that is. over months and even years. So that even severely para lyzed child who has made little recov- cry of function by the time the acute stage of the disease is over may go on gaining for weeks, months and even years until in the end he has regained Il large part of his losses.
 Fortunately only very small num- Der of the attacked are left severely and helplessly crippled. There exists at present no safe method of preven- tive inoculatiom or vaccination and no practicable method of specific treat ment. The prevention of the disease must be accomplished through general sanitary means. Recovery from the disease is n spontaneous process which can he greatly assisted by proper med ical and surgical care. Infantile par alySis is an infectious disease, due to n definite and specific micro-organism or virus. Recovery is accomplished by a process of immunization which takes place during the acute period of the disease
 "The tendency of the disease is to- ward recovery. and it is chiefly or only because the paralysis in some instances involves those portions of the brain and spinal cord which control respira- ton or breathing and the hearts ac- ion that death results"
 Hint of q probable cure for paralysis was given by pr. s. ]. Meltzer of the institute. Experiments made upon monkeys, he stated. had shown encouraging results when intra- spinal injections of adrenaline were given.
 "On the basis of experiments made " Dr. Loori and myself" said Dr. \Ieltzer, "the treatment of all cases of paralysis by intra-spinal in- cctions of adrcnalin is advocated.
 Clinical experiments at Rockefeller institute. made by Dr. Clark and my elf upon monkeys artifcially infected with infantlle paralysis, have yielded encouraging results. At this time, loweyer thnt is ns much ns cnn he.