The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-08-17
iNFANTILE PARALYSIS.
How the Disease Is Communicated
and How Controlled.

To control the present epidemic OF
infantile paralysis according to a
statement issued by the United States
public health service today, the chain
of infection between persons harbor-
ing germs of the disease and the well
members of the community should be
broken. Infantile paralysis Is prob
ably caused by a very minute organ
ism found in the nasal, mouth and
bowel discharges of those who have
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 well person, the disease will
cease.
Infantile paralysis is not a disease
of recent origin. Sporadic or scatter
ed cases have occurred throughout
the country for many years but 1t ~
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 it's magnitude and vir-
ulence, 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
1t is believed that the epidemic will
subsde.
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 persons, pre-
scribe sanitary measures and limit as
may be necessary the travel of indi-
viduals in order to protect neighbor-
dividuals and communities, however,
can do much toward their own pro-
lection.
Poliomyelitis is probably spread di-
rectly or indirectly, through the medi-
UNI of infective secretions. Account
must therefore be taken by eommuni-
ties of every means by which such
secretions are disseminated. Promis-
cnous 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 pub
lie places should be enforced Flies,
reaches and other vemin, by coming
in contact with infective secretions,
may possibly convey them to our food
velopment of disease Therefore
eliminate insects. Street and house
dust bear a definite relation to the
spread of many infections and 1t is
not unreasonable to presume that
they may be a factor in the dissemin-
alton of infantile paralysis. Maintain
strict cleanliness of streest, yards and
alleys in order to prevent the breed
ing of insects and other vermin. See
that all garbage and waste are proper
ly cared for and collected at regular
and frequent intervals. Guard all
food supplies especially milk and 9TH
er perishable products Digestive
troubles of children arising from the
indigestion of food of questionable
quality may lower resistance Assem-
blies of children in infected localities
are to be discouraged, if not actually
are In sense general, and applicable
to many epidemic diseases, their i'm
portance should not be overlooked
Individual preventive measure 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 commun-
lty medical aid should be sought when
ever child is sick no matter how |
light the illness: many cases of infan-
tile paralysis begin with a slight in
disposition. Should the Illness prove
to be infantile paralysis isolate the
patient, place competent person in
and reduce all communication
with the sick room to a minimum.
Hospital care Is preferable, not only
Tor the child but in order to better
safeguard against the spread of the
disease. The sick room should be
we'll ventilated and screened. Nasal
md mouth secretions should be re-
,eived in cloths, placed in a paper
BAG and burned. The clothing of the
hid, the bed linen and the excretions
should be dsinfected in the same
manner as for typhoid fever, that is
" boiling, the long continued appli-
alton of per cent carbolic, or other
veil recognized disinfectant The same ,
true for dishes and drinking ves- ,
els. Nurses should exercise the same :
recautions as regards cleanliness OF :
ands in caring for infantile paraly- ,
is patients as for those afflicted with .
Their infectious diseases.
A child may convey the disease to
theirs even after a lapse of several
'eeks, For this reason quarantine Il