The Washington herald., 1916-08-04
INFANTILE PARALYSIS-PART ]

1t Is believed that the germ giving rise
to the disease finds It's way into the body
through the mucous membrane of the
nose and also through the intestines.
Therefore parents are warned to use such
antiseptic lotions in the toilet OF their
children as will keep the nasal tract free
from infection: also to employ laxatives
that will clear the intestinal tract.
rnymol is one OF the best germicidaI
agents for use upon the mucous mem
branes covering the inner tube and nasal
chambers. Extraordinary precautions
should also be taken to keep everything
in and around the dwelling clean and
sweet. Children should be bathed at
least once a day, preferably twice. and
their clothing changed frequently. They
should not be allowed to play too vio-
lently or to become overheated. Indiges-
ton and colds must be guarded against.
1t must be remembered that all infec-
tious diseases are communicable and that
all communicable diseases are preventa-
BILE. A child that is suspiciously Ill should
be isolated end kept under
observation until the true nature Of its
mslady is recognized. even though moth
ing of a serious character develops.
AS its name indicates. 1t is a disease of
infancy or early childhood. involving the
nervous system and resulting in partial
or complete paralysis Of one or more
parts of the body. It is not a new dis
ease. as many believe. but its outbreak IN
epidemic form is more or less recent, and
1t Is this fact that has called such world
wide attention to 1t. There are always
some cases of infantile paralysis in every
community of children. and these are
known as sporadic; that is. they crop out
singly now and then. But when a great
many are stricken down at the same time
involving during its prevalence in 1907
In the city of New York $500 cases-it be-
comes an epidemic startling alike to the
public and to physicians.
One fact OF extreme interest brought
out during this outbreak is that the dis
ease loses some, of its characteristics
during an epidemic and attacks adults;
also. unlike a great many diseases that
appear in epidemic form. 1t is not con-
fined to one class OF society. but reaches
those living under the best hygienic con-
ditions. 1t is also of much shorter dura-
tion. and usually appears in hot weather
when the rainfall is low. For these rea-
sons. many physicians are of the opinion
that We are dealing with another con-
dition when it breaks out in large num-
bers.
However, infantiIe paralysis is usually
confined to the years of infancy Cup to
the age of 81 1t does. of course, attack
older children. but 1t is extremely rare
during the first six months Of life. II
corresponds more particularly to the time
when children make their first efforts at
walking. and it is seen more frequently
among boys than among girls.
In infantile paralysis the lower part of
the spinal cord is the part of the nervous
system where the trouble begins, and II
will readily be understood that the un-
usual exertion made by the child in its
efforts to loComote puts a tremendous
strain upon the nerves and muscles in
this region. The blood supply to these
parts is also insufficient for any sustained
effort; and | will deviste a moment and
warn parents OF the cruelty they unCon-
sciously subject little tots to when they
insist upon standing them up and max
ing them walk along before they are
really able to. Don't forget that healthy