The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-02
PREVENT INFANTILE PARALYSIS
United States Public Health Service
Discusses the Disease

To control the present epidemic of
lnfantile paralysis, according to Il
statement issued by the United States
Public Health service today, the chain
of infection between persons harboring
germs of the disease and the well mem
bers of the community should be brok-
en-. lnfantile paralysis is probably
caused by a very minute organism
found in the nasal, mouth and bowel
discharges of those who have the dis
| ease or who are carriers of 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 pass
ing from the infected to the well per
son, the disease will cease.
Iafantile paralysis is not disease
of recent origin, Sporadic or scattered
cases have occurred throughout the
country for many years but it is only
during the last decade that the infec-
tion has assumed epidemic proportions
in the United States. The present cpl
dcmic in New York city, on account of
it's magnitude and virulence, has awak-
cned the residents of many communal
ties to the danger of the importation
This danger is real. but if due prepare
tions are exercised it is believed thai
the epidemic will subside.
The actual control of the pres
ent epidemic must be left to
| thorities These organizations will
properly quarantine and care for af-
fected persons, prescribe sanitary meas
l. : ~,
travel of individuals in order to pro
tect neighboring districts from the in
lection. individuals and communities,
however, can do much toward their
own protection.
Poliomychtis is probably spread Iii
| rectly or Indirectly, through the me
dunn of infective secretions. Account
must therefore be taken by communi-
ties of every means by which such se-
cretions are disseminated. Promiseu-
Gus expectoration should be controlled
The common drinking cup affords a
method for the intere change of material
of this nature and should therefore be
abolished. Rigid cleanliness of glasses
and utensils at soda fountains, in sa-
looms and other public places should be
enforced. Flies, reaches and other YER
min, by coming i'll contact with infect
i've secretiOns, may possibly convey
| them to our food and thus directly
| bring about the development of disease
| Therefore eliminate insects. Street
and house dust bear a definite relation
| to the spread of many infections and
| it is not unreasonable to presume that
! they may be a factor i'll the dissemina-
| ton of infantile paralysis. Maintain
strict cleanliness of streets, yards and
! alleys in order to prevent the breeding
| of insects and other vermin. See that
all garbage and waste are properly
| cared for and collected at regular and
| frequent intervals. Guard all food sup
plies, especially milk and other per
! isGable products. Digestive troubles
of children arising from the ingestion
| of food of questionable quality may
| lower resistance. Assemblies of chill
! dren in infected localities are to be
| discouraged, if not absolutely forbid
| den. While the above measures are III
a sense general, and applicable to many
! epidemic diseases, their Importance
should not be overlooked.
Individual preventive measures may
| be thus summarizes:
Summon n physician and immediate.
| " notify the health officer of the pres
ence of the disease. If the disease is
present in the community, medical aid
! should be sought whenever a child Is
| sick no matter how slight the Illness
many cases of infantile paralysis be-
! gin with slight indispositioa. Should
/ the illness prove to be infantile paraly
sis isolate the patient, place a compe
tent person in charge, and reduce al
| communication with the sick room to g
minimum. Hospital care is preferable
not only for the child but in order tC
better safeguard against the spread OF
the disease. The sick room should be
well ventilated and screened Nasa1
and mouth secretions should be re
ceived in cloths, placed in a paper
! bag, and burned. The clothing of the
child. the bed linen, and the excretions
| should be disinfected in the same man
ler as for typhoid fever, that is b.
boiling, the long continued application
of ) per cent carbolic. or other well re
cOgnized disinfectant The same is
true for dishes and drinking vessels
| Nurses should exercise the same pre-
cautions as regards cleanliness OF
hands in caring for infantile paralysis
| patients as for those afflicted witt
! other infectious diseases.
A child NAV convey the disease t.
others even after a lapse of severa
weeks For this reason quarantin,
should be maintained for a consider
able period, usually from six to eight
weeks, and the above precautions SHOULD
be adhered to during this time Dis
infection of the room following recov