Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-07-29

the disease 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 pre-
vented from passing from the infect
ed to the we'll person, the disease will
cease.
Infantile paralysis is not disease
of recent origin. Sporadic or scat
tered cases have occurred throughout
the country for many years but it is
only during the last decade that the
infection has assumed epidemic pro-
portions in the United States The
present epidemic in New York City,
on account of its magnitude and yiru-
lence, has awakened the residents of
many communities to the danger of
the importation of the disease into
their own midst This danger is real,
but if due precautions are exercised
it is believed that the epidemic will
subside.
The actual control of the present
epidemic must be left to the city,
state and federal health authorities.
These organizations will properly
quarantine and care for affected per
sons, prescribe sanitary measures and
limit as may be necessary the travel
of individuals in order to protect
neighboring districts from the infec-
ton. individuals and communities,
however, can do much toward their
own protection.
Poliomelitis is probably spread di-
rectly or indirectly, through the med
um of infective secretions. Account
must therefore be taken by communi-
ties of every means by which such Sc
| cretions are disseminated. Promis-
cuous expectoration should be con
trolled. The common drinking cup
affords a method for the interchange
of material of this nature and should
| therefore be abolished. Rigid clean
illness of glasses and utensils at soda
| fountains, in saloons and other pd5-
lie places should be enforced Flies,
reaches and other vermin by coming
in contact with infective secretions,
may possibly convey them to our food
and thus directly bring about the de-
velopment of disease. Therefore elm
mate insects. Street and house dust
bear a definite relation to the spread
of many infections and it is not UNI
reasonable to presume that they may
| be factor in the dissemination of in
fantile paralysis. Maintain strict
cleanliness of streets, yards and al
leys in order to prevent the breeding
of insects and other yermin.
See that all garbage and waste are
properly cared for and collected at
regular and frequent intervals. Guard
all food supplies, especially milk and
other perishable products. Digestive
troubles of children arising from the
ingestion of food of questionable quail
ity may lower resistance. Assemblies
of children in infected localities are
to be discouraged, if not actually for
hidden. While the above measures
are in a sense general, and applica-
BILE to many epidemic diseases, their
Importance should not be overlooked:
Individual preventive measures may
be thus summarized:
Summon a physician at once and
Immediately notify the health officer
of the presence of the disease. If
the disease is present in the COM
munity, medical aid should be sought
whenever a child is sick no matter
how light the illness; many cases of
infantile paralysis begin with a slight
prove to be infantile paralysis iso-
late the patient, place a competent
person in charge, and reduce all com
munication with the sick room to a
minimum. Hospital care is prefera-
BILE, not only for the child but in or
der to better safeguard against the
spread of the disease The sick room
should be we'll ventilated and screen
ed. Nasal and mouth secretions
should be received in cloths, placed
| in a paper bag, and burned. The
clothing of the child, the bed linen,
and the excretions should be disinfect-
ed in the same manner as for typhoid
fever, that is by boiling, the long con-
tinued application of per cent carbol-
ic. or other well recognized disinfec-
tant. The same is true for dishes and
drinking vessels. Nurses should exer-
else the same precautions as regards
cleanliness sof hands in caring for in
fantile paralysis patients as for those
afflicted with other infectious dis
eases