The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-07-27
PREVENTION OF IN
FANTILE PARALYSIS

i ~ SOACAVA OAO PiSOSAO PAuShAAO VI
infantile paralysis, according to state
ment issued by the United States Public
Health Service today, the chain Of in
lection between persons harboring the
germs Of the disease and the we'll mem.
uers Of the community should be broken.
Infantile paralysis is probably caused
! by very minute organism found in
the nasal, mouth and bowel discharges
of those who have the disease or who
are carriers of the germ without them
selves suffering from the ailment. All
of the steps in the spread Of the infec-
ton are not known but if this germ can
| be prevented from passing from the in
| fected to the well person, the disease
will cease.
Infantie paralysis is not a disease Of
recent origin. Sporadic or scattered
cases have occurred throughout the
country for many years but it is only
during the last decade that the infec-
ton has assumed epidemic proportions
in the United States. The present cpl.
demic in New York City, on account of
its magnitude and virulence, has awak-
ened the residents of many communities
to the danger of the importation Of the
disease into their own midst. This dan
ger is real, but if due precautions are
exercised it is believed the epidemic
will subside.
The actual control of the present cpl
demic must be left to the city, State
and Federal health authorities. These
organizations will properly quarantine
and care for infected persons, prescribe
sanitary measures and limit as may be
necessary the travel of individuals in
order to protect neighboring districts
| from the infection. individuals and COM
munities, however can do much toward
their own protection.
Poliomyelitis is probably spread di.
rectly or indirectly, through the medi-
UNI of infective secretions. Account
must therefore be taken by communities
of every means by which such secre-
tions are disseminated. Promiscuous ex-
pectoration should be controlled. The
common drinking cup affords a method
for the interchange of material of this
nature and should therefore be abol-
ished., Rigid cleanliness Of glasses and
utensils at soda fountains, in saloons
and other public places should be en-.
forced. Flies, reaches and other vermin,
by coming in contact with infective Sc.
cretions, may possibly convey them to
our food and thus directly bring about
the development of the disease. Street
and house dust bear definite relation
to the spread of many infections and it
is not unreasonable to presume that they
may be factor in the dissemination of
infantile paralysis. Maintain strict
cleanliness of streets, yards, and alleys
in order to prevent the breeding Of in.
sects and other vermin. See that all
garbage and waste are properly cared
for and collected at regular and fire.
quent intervals. Guard all food sup
plies, especially milk and other perish
able products. Digestive troubles Of
children arising from the ingestion of
food Of questionable quality may lower
resistance. Assemblies of children in in.
fected localities are to be discouraged
While the above measures are in a
sense general, and applicable to many
epidemic diseases, their importance
should not be overlooked.
Individual preventive measures may
be thus SUMMARIZED:
Summon physician at once and i'm.
mediately notify the health officer OF
the presence of the disease If the dis
ease is present in the community, medi
cal aid should be sought whenever a
child is sick no matter how slight the
illness; many eases of infantile para
lysis begin with slight indisposition
Should the illness prove to be infantile
paralysis isolate the patient, place a
competent person in charge and reduce
all communication with the sick room
to a minimum. Hospital care is prefer
able, not only for the child but in order
to better safeguard against the spread
of the disease. The sick room should be
well ventilated and screened. Nasal and
mouth secretions should be received in
cloths, placed in paper bag, and burn
ed. The clothing of the child, the bed
linen, and the excretions should be dis
infected in the same manner as for ty
phoid fever, that is, by boiling, the long
continued application of 5 per cent ear
bolic or other we'll recognized disinfec
tant. The same is true for dishes anG