Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-07-21
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM HERE
FROM INFANTILE PARALYSIS
Bulletin from DIR. Duke, State Health
Commissioner, Tells of Symp-.
toms and Cure for Terrible
Disease to Children

The unprecedented ravages Of in
fantile paralysis in New York City,
as we'll as outbreaks of the dread di-
sease in othe rparts of the country,
have caused something of panic in
the minds of the general public.
AS far as Oklahoma is concerned,
while precautions should be taken,
there is not the slightest cause for
panic. There has not been case
reported to date within the borders
of the State. Precautions are being
taken by the State Board of Health
to deal with any emergency which
might arise, but the actual danger
is not considered great.
AS matter of fact, the dread in
spired by infantile paralysis is all out
OF proportion to the actual number
of its victims. tuberculosis, typhoid,
diphtheria, many other diseases, are
far greater scourges. But infantile
paralysis strikes at the youngest and
weakest class in the community. It
often strikes with deadly swiftness.
There is danger of some permanent
disability arising from the disease.
Above all, it is a disease which in a
considerable degree has mystified
modern science. For all these rea-
sones it inspir,s, especially among
mothers, a terror which is scarcely
justified by facts and conditions.
Disease and Treatment
Put in simplest terms, the condi-
tion known as infantile paralysis is
the result of an attack by an organ
ism or minute parasite on the or
ganism of the spinal cord, into
which the parasite makes its way.
The spinal cord becomes filled with
blood. and the sensory and motor
Icells. as they are called become dis
organized and broken. Partial par
alysis and too often death may re-
suit.
1t is know that the disease is
caused by this minute organism; ii
is known that infection can be con
veyed by the stable fly, as well as
by transmission from person to per
son: but treatment of the disease
with any certainty is problem
which has baffled medical science
1t was reported few days ago thai
a New York physician had discover
ed a cure for the disease. II is tC
be hoped that this is true, but so fal
the claim has not been definitely es
tablished.
In the treatment OF the disease
the following measures are recon-
lmended: The patient should be iso
lated as completely as possible in a
clean. bare room well screened tC
keep out insects. Visiting should
be forbidden, and only the necessary
attendant should be allowed to come
in contact with the patient, All the
discharges, including sputum, nasal
secretions, urine and feces, should
be thoroughly disinfected, and spec
ial care should be taken that cups,
spoons, remnants of food, etc, which
may have become contaminated by
the patient. ore burned, scalded, or
otherwise purified,
Towels. bed linen, or other fab
ric, should be boiled or dipped in a
I lgermicidal solution strong enough
to destroy the bacillus. The nurse
and physician should observe the
same precautions regarding their
hands and clothing that they would
in other dangerous contagious di-
seases
The period during which the iso-
lation should be maintained cannot
be definitely stated. Children are
usually not permitted to return to
school for at least three weeks, but
/ il the chronic carriers play the i'm
portant role now inspected, this
time is in many instances too short.
Whatever the mode of transmits