South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-18
The Battle Against Inta,ltile Paralysis and
Other Diseases by Injection Directly
Into the Spinal Fluid

know, however, that If the spinal fluid
from a child suffering from infantile
paralysis is injected into the brain of a
monkey, or rubbed into the mucous mem
branes OF the nose OF monkey, this in
sidious disease will be produced in the
animal
Spinal puncture experimental work in
the study Of infantile paralysis has been
during the last few years, widely carried
on in the research laboratories OF the
Rockefeller Institute.
Since the present epidemic OF infantile
paralysis, DR.. S. ]. Meltzer, at a meeting
Of the New York Academy of Medicine,
advocated the injection into the spinal
canal OF sufferers from infantile paraly-
sis OF the drug known as adrenalin
chloride. This Is a glandular secretion
produced by two glands known as the
adrenal glands Immediately above the
kidneys. While as yet an insufficient
number Of cases have been treated by
this method to draw any positive and
conclusive results, ii is believed this
form of treatment for infantile paralysis
may have great virtue.
In the very early stages or infantile
paralysis 1t has been found by post
norton study that the blood vessels Of
the spinal cord are exceedingly dilated.
Wherever this excessive dilation has oc-
Cured. paralysis develops rapidly.
The whole idea back Of the adrenalin
intraspinal injection treatment is based
upon the power OF this drug to construct
this blood vessel congestion and thus re-
lieve the localized pressure and possibly
the localized tOxemia in the delicate
spinal cell structure.
Whether or not we persist in the
adrenalin spinal injection treatment, its
curative powers can be determined only
after a sufficient lapse of time, during
which accurate statistics can be compiled
and thoroughly analysed. Certainly at
this time medical science has welcomed
with open arms the idea advanced by DR..
Meltzer, OF the Rockefeller Institute, that
perhaps in adrenalin we have one means
Of lessening the ravages Of this virulent
epidemic
But while as yet the intraspinal injec-
ton treatment OF infantile paralysis is on
trial there are many diseases where it's
efficiency and its helpfulness 10 mankind
have already been placed beyond the cir
Gle OF doubt.
In spinal meningitis. for example, where
the infective organisms attack the mem
branes OF the brain as well as the spinal
cord, DR.. Simon Flexner, the director OF
the Rockefeller Institute. when helping
spinal meningitis in Texas developed a
serum. This serum ne found, when in
jected into the spinal canal OF the victim,
rapidly lessened the virulent ravages )f
the disease.
Working on the same experimental
lines, physicians have begun 10 apply this
method in the treatment OF hydrophobia
Of tetanus or lockjaw and Of locOmOtor
ataxia and of general paralysis. In the
treatment Of hydrophobia sulphate OF
quinine is injected into the spinal canal
In the intraspinal treatment OF tetanus
or lockiaw the tetanus antitoxin is in
tected into the spinal canal.
In the treatment OF locomotor ataxia. OF
which the germ known as the spirocheta
pallida is the cause, there has recently
been devised a serum known as the Swift
Ellis serum. This serum Is made by the
patient himself. The patient is injected
with a well-known drug When his sys-
tenn has become saturated with il about
a pint OF his blood is withdrawn.
The blood Is allowed TO stand and set
tie, and the blood serum is then extracted
II is this which is then injected into the
spinal canal.
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