Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-11
Congress Expected to Rush
Appropriation of 100000
to Aid the War on Epidemic

Vigorous measures for the control of
the infantile paralysis epidemic in New
York. in cooperation with the local
health board. and for prevention of the
spread of the conta gion, were taken
today by the public health service, fol-
lowing a conference of the general
board.
Passed Assistant Surgeon Wade H.
Frost. recognized as the best authority
in the United States in poliomyelitis
Gnfantile paralysis), and author of sew
eral scientific papers published on this
subject by the bureau, who has recently
been stationed in Cincinnati investi-
eating the pollution of the Ohio river,
has been sent to New York to assist
the local and federal authorities.
William c. Rucker, assistant surgeon
general of the public health service,
today dictated and sent letters to off,
Gals of all the steamship and railroad
carriers leaving New York in which he
directed their attention specifically to
nine paragraphs in the interstate quar-
antine regulations affecting their serv-
ice. He told them that all terminal
and train employees should be vigilant
to detect any prospective or actual pas
sengers showing signs of the dsea Sc
and that each case should be reported
at once to the health authorities.
Advice to Communities.
Specific advice as to how communities
can prevent the spread of the disease
and definite instructions as to whaf
must be done at once when the disease
is discovered are being prepared today
by DR.. Z. A. Sweet. assistant to DR..
Rucker in general charge of the poll
'omyelitis prevention campaign. These
are 10 be sent broadcast through the
country, TO all newspapers, field work
ers of the public health service state
health authorities and all Others who
Will act as leaders in pronunciation of
the warnings they contain.
While the public health service has
AT present only seven of its most high
~ trained laboratory experts on polio
myeHtis at work in New York this
1orce is soon to be largely Increased
according to positive statement made
by an official today. 1t is realized that
not only to check the present conta-
gion, but to make a close study that
VIII aid in prevention of future cpl
denies, the public health service must
send the largest possible force of
trained surgeons to New York at this
time To meet the extraordinary ex-
.penses entailed in this prevention cam
paign and to meet the need for an in
crease in office force at the public
health bureau here Congress is going
to rush through an emergency appro-
priation for at least 100000. This has
houses of Congress. and while several
members of Congress have bills for
this appropriation drafted, 1t is ex-
pected that action will be taken by
quest for such funds sent in by Secre-
tary McAdoo of the Treasury Depart
ment, under whom the public health
service comes officially.
The public health officials are most
deeply concerned over the fact that
many persons exposed to the disease
who do not show recognizable signs of
being themselves afflicted are what is
known professionally as benign
cases and are ready agents for the
spread of the contagion.
Instructions to state and city health
authorities being sent out today recon-
mend isolation of patients for six or
eight weeks and of persons coming in
contact with them and general tight
ening up of all sanitary precautions
Epidemic Only in New York.
Reports to the health service today
indicated that infantile paralysis is
not epidemic except in New York city
Elsewhere the number Of cases Is bare
~ above normal. Authorities of num-
Der of states. II Is said. are consider
ing the lead of California, which plans
to demand that persons coming from
IHit"Ntu areas Sfo" a physician GER
tificate of freedom from contact
1t is estimated that there are not
more than seventy-five cases through
out the country other than in New
York. and this number. according to DR.
Z. \. Sweet, who has charge of the in
quiry. is about normal for July. Sew
eral states reported no cases and the
average per state was not more than
three.
Seven field directors of the service
have been called from their posts m
assist the corps at Washington in
hghting infantile paralysis. 1t is said
others VIII be summoned within a few
days.