Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-28
PARALYSIS MAKES
APPEARANCE HERE
Myra Belle Montgomery, Aged
Four Years, Has Disease
in Mild Form.
CAME FROM PHILADELPHIA
Child and Mother Will Be Moved
to City's Contagious Dis
ease Pavilion.

DeStIlte all precautions hl the ftcalth
Department. case Of infantile pa
ralysis has developed in Richmond.
Although the authorities last night ex-
pressed tho conv!c.ion that the dis
ease would not spread. the house where
IL was found was imm ediately Quaran-
tined Police officers were stationed
about the promises. and rigid instruc-N
tions given to allow no one TO enter
or leave
The little victim is Myra Belle Mont
Eomcry. aged four years and six
months. daughter Of Mrs. Ira Mont
Eomery. who Is at the home Of Mrs.
J. s. Soyars. 3i2 North Thirty-second
Street Her case is reported 20 be
mild one. and therefore health officials
do not believe there is serious danger
Of contasion, but they have, never
theless. taken every prccaution TO
guard against II.
The father Of the little girl was
drowned in tho City Dock and his body
was recovered ono week ago to-day.
1t was not identified until Monday.
DIAGNOSIS Is CONFIRMED
AS pOI.IOMYELITIs
~ r. T. Summers. medical in
spector of the Health department. who
diagnosed the case as poliomyelitis
when hc was called in Yesterday. he
iitves that tho child contracted the dis
case in Philadelphia. Mrs. Mont
comory and tho child arrived in Rich
mond on Monday night, according to
tho account given pr. Summers. When
tho father was last seen alive he an
nounced his Intention If going to
Philadelphia 10 vrsit his wife and child.
Mrs Soyars was the sister Of MIR. Mont
gomcry.
Dr William r Williamson. of 3o1
Louisiana Street, Fulton. who was
called To attend the child. yesterday
morning reported 10 the Health De-
par,meut that he suspected her as be-
ing a victim Of infantile paralysis. Dr.
Summers hurried TO the Thirty second
street home and confirmed Dr. VIII
liamson's belief Later in the day DR..
Summers. accompanied bv Dr. r. G.
Levy. chief Health officer, again
visited the patient Dr. Levy said that
there was no doubt but that the
symptoms displayed were those OF the
dreaded disease. y strict quarantine
was ordered, and the police were noti
fed officers were stationed At the
house. and ms a further warning 10
callers 20 keep away, rope was
stretched across the front porch
CAME To RICHMOND
on LAST MONDAY NIGHT
The history of the case. as told TO
the officials. was that the child had
been slightly i'll for several days.
However, she was able TO make the
.,.;,, T. oh " lnr p1
arrived here late on Monday night over
the Scaboard AIR Line Railway. They
left the train at tho Main Street Sta
ton, going At once to the home Of
Mrs Soyars ON Tuesday afternoon
the little girl was taken by her mother
TO tho fathers grave in Oakwood
Cemetery. They travelled on street
cars, and in coming and going to and
from the cemetery they were the only
passengers on tho cars.
Dr Summers found that the case was
of mild type, the girl being affected
An the left leg
This Is the first case which the au-
thoritiaR have deemed 1t necessary to
surround by a quarantine. two others
which were reported being OF a chronic
instead OF an epidemic type, Both OF
the Others were imported into the city
Will. he ISOLATED
IN SPECIAL PAVILION
In all proba bility. Mrs. Montgomery
and her daughter will be removed this
morning to the contagious pavilion in
tho rear of the City Home. while the
Memorial Hospital has placed an entire
ward at our disposal to care for any
cases Of infantile paralysis. | believe
that we will be in a better position to
give comfort to the patient at the
pavilion" said DR.. Levy. The Admin
istrative Board has ordered certain
equipment put in place and few
necessary repairs made. y trained
nurse will be in constant attendance.
There is said TO be no question but
that the case is OF the infectious type.
but DR. Levy laid stress on the i'm
portance of not becoming unduly
alarmed I'VE have taken every pre-
caution, and see 10 reason why the
disease should spread" he said.
DR.. Levy declared that. while it is
not fully known what is the source Of
the afIiiction. IL is, nevertheless, known
to spread in sections where people are
careless or dirty. The section in which
this case developed is composed Of self
respecting people, and is occupied by
homes OF families who take pride in
keeping them clean. For this reason,
Dr. Levy believes. there is no danger
Of the disease spreading.
The public will do WELL" said DR..
Levy. TO follow the advice first given.
the essential part OF which Is to sum-
mon a physician as soon as a child
shows any symptoms whatsoever of
being i'll. first isolating the patient
TOO much cannot be said" he added,
about the necessity of keeping chill
dren away from crowded places, espe-
cinlly indecrs. such as moving picture
theaters. Careful attention should be
given to keep the mouth and nose
clean
Daring AIrman Killed In Hattie.