New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-29
PARALYSIS DUE
TO REAPPEAR,
FLEXNER WARNS
InfantiIe Plague May Re
sumo Sweep Next Sum
mer, lie Says
DENIES THAT INSECTS
SPREAD INFECTION
Scientists Are Told of Dis
ease Peril, and Get
Instructions

Dr. Simon Flcxner. Of the Rocke-
TELLER Institute. in public lecture at
Columbia yesterday afternoon 70 mem
hers or tie American Association Tor
enc Advancement Of Science. predicted
that next summer would see return
Of infant'e paralysis in epidemic form
81 am not fond Of the role OF being
a prophet" said ne, but ! think all
.hc indications arc that the disease IS
here and viii stay for a considerable
pcriod. 10 has been here since 1906
though its victims were not so many as
in tho last year but 80 is not probable
that having got . strong hold u Will
easily give way.
Torcwarning Is Given
con the other hand, The indications
are that the community which has SUI
fered seriously in one year may not
suffer the next am inclined TO think
that the disease viii be more vide
srread this next summer, and there
fore YOU should have such knowledge
Of IL that you will not only be fore
warned but forcarmcd.'
Dr Flcxner traced the history OF IN
fsntile paralysis ia epidemic form ana
described the infinitely minute micro
organism which causes H. The disease
hc described as contagious, ana as
spread both by victims sunering rom
IL so slightly that their ma sposlllo"
did not Keep them indoors ana oy per
fectlv healthy persons VINO ac'eu a.
,arriers. He had found little 10 suo-
startiatc the theory that insects spread
the disease. he said, al e%Peri"le' -
seeming TO point 90 ITS direct Trans ~
SION from one person 10 aNO'"e'
through infection Of the mucous mem
brs0es Of the nose and throat
But one of the most dangerous as
covcries regarding the plague, ~ -
Flc1ncr's estimation. was lhat IL W,
CURED Frequently In such HghI lo4i
as almost 20 defy diagnosis snow ..'
10 parulysis OF meninslus' ,! ~
,rhfrb occurred only 70 the more severe
80, vof these light cases provided
+he greatest social menace as ake".o
s., snresdinc the contagou. more
universal use Of the spinal hud test
aud Tho consequent strict QuarantnlnE
nj the lightly afflicted must precede' ne
+bougbf any successful war on an IN
fsutilo paralysis epidemic.
MANY Meetings Held
Yesterdays short span was crowded
with the meetings OF the diderehJ sec,
tions OF the American Association anu
its many affiliated societies y ~ lu
nosjum on thrift before the sec.lOn on
social and economic science I'D tHS
School Of Mines, Columbia occuPleu
both morning and afternoon sessions
OF that section. e....;.,.ordor. n
1,.s,,~srce described the effect OF the
aIorrie plan on the development OF
.brif. 4 Parker Nevin. general coun-
Ell ~ tho National Association OF Man
,r,c.rrors. enumerated some "OoJec-
.,one IA Compulsory Sick Insurance.
lilo as well as Colonel George Pope
president Of the association, and >.
ScoGeld Rowe. vice-presldent o. the
atna Life Insurance Company, at
lacked the provisions OF the Mills bill,
which were defended by State Senator
Ogden Mills. their author
Engineers Open Day
Tho engineering section began the
da. with a session devoted TO the prob
IONS of sanitary engineering, including
pure water supply and urban sew
are disposal. and continued II during
afternoon and evening at the Assembly
Hall of tho Automobile Club of Amer
ica with consideration OF those Of high
way engineering.
The Mathematician and the natural
lists celebrated the accomplishment Of
their daily programmes with dinners,
tho former at the Park Avenue Hotel
and the latter AZ the McAlpin. In the
evening Professor A. A. NOyes, OF the
Massachusetts Institute OF Technology,
gave public lecture 40 the Museum Of
Natural History on Nitrogen and Pre-
hardness"