The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-07-20
Works: West
Despite Heroic Efforts

New York, July 15.-The strongest
children, the healthest babies, are the
ones most in danger from the myster-
ions scourge of infantile paralysis
that is spreading from New York into
every corner of the nation! Vigorous
health seems to be no protection
against the disease.
So says DR.. Simon Flexner of the
Rockefeller Institute, world leader in
the study of infantile paralysis, and
the first man to identify the germ.
This germ, by the way, is so tiny it
will pass through the finest porcelain
filter.
All mothers will be anxious to read
what DR.. Flexner, Americas foremost
authority on the disease, has to say Of
it.
"The chief terror of the disease lies
in it's appalling power to produce de-
formities," he declares.
when death occurs it is not the re-
suit of process of poisoning that robs
by paralysis of the respiratory func-
ton sometimes with merciful sudden
ness, but often with painful slowness,
without obscuring the consciousness
of the suffocating victim until just be-
fore the end.
mo more terrible tragedy can be
witnessed!
1.-THE bacillus enters the body chief
ly, if not exclusively, through the nose
and throat" DR.. Flexner explains.
Hence the mode of spread may be by
kissing, coughing and sneezing.
Since the disease attacks by pref
erence young children and infants
whose nasal and mouth secretions are
wiped away by mother or nurse, the
fingers of these persons readily be-
come contaminated.
"The care of other children by per.
sons with contaminated fingers may
therefore lead to the conveying of the
infectious micro-organism indirectly
from the sick to the healthy"
Following are the methods of treat
ment advocated by DR.. Flexner:
Isolation of the acutely i'll, proper de-
struction OF contaminated discharges
(this means receiving nose discharges
I on linen cloths which should be burned
at once), supervision of persons in
contact with the sick and of all ven.
doris Of food, exclusion of all flies and
general sanitary control of all families
in which the disease exists.
In many cities mothers are buying
little cubes of gum camphor - often
sold by druggists at several times the
true value-and hanging them about
the necks of their children. The com.
phor is supposed to be preventive.
! Doctors say you might as we'll drape
! your children with green onions, for all
! the good it would do!
! Cleanliness and avoidance of dust
and crowds are the best preventive
measures yet found in New York.
Every infected district should be given
a daily scrubbing, say the New York
health authorities, who have just taken
the drastic step of giving the entire
city daily bath in 100000 gallons
; of water.
| Physicians Debate Measures
New York, July 15.-Medical ex.
perts battling against the epidemic OF
infantile paralysis which has cost 432
] lives in this city, expressed divergent
views today upon the efficiency of in.
, jections of adrenalin in the spine as a
remedy recommended by the DR.. S. J.
Meltzer, of the Rockefeller institute.
Four deaths from the disease were
reported today in New Jersey, two in
Newark, one in West New York, and
one in West Hoboken. There have
been 100 cases in that state to date.
Sioux Falls Has Case
Sioux Falls, S. D., July 1.-THE firsts
case of infantile paralysis appeared in
Sioux Falls today.
State and local health officials here
have ordered public bathing pools
closed and if further cases develop
moving picture houses and the public
libraries will be closed to children I'M
der 10 years. ..%.