New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-04

Reports OF the Department OF
Health yesterday showed a decrease OF
fen in the number of new cases oil in
fantile paralysis and an increase OF
one in the number of deaths, as COM
pared with Saturdays figures. The
new cases were fifty-one and the
deaths twenty.
Private physicians of New York are
rapidly becoming educated in the
symptoms Of infantile paralysis" said
DIR. Abraham Zingher, Of the Willard
Parker Hospital, last night, "and' as
result. we are getting the cases to
the hospitals much earlier than we
were at the beginning Of the epidemic
This gives US just that much more
chance to do something for the pa
tient. for in all of the treatments
which we are using the best results
have been obtained when they are be-
gun in the early stages of the dis
ease"
Plague Deceives Doctors.
DR.. Zingher declared that so little
did the average practitioner know
about poliomyelitis at the beginning
of the present sweep Of the scourge
that many cases were treated as sum
mer complaint or other common ILL
less for several days before unmis-
taxable symptoms of paralysis began
10 manifest themselves. In several in
stances this paralysis was so severe
as to cripple the patient for life.
The campaign OF education inaugu-
rated among private physicians has
borne excellent results, and Or.
Zingher and other officials Of the de-
partment said they have been receiv-
ING the finest of cooperation from the
private physicians throughout the
CITY. Virtually every practitioner
whose patients include families in
which there are children has attended
one or more of :he poliomyelitis
clinics which have been conducted by
the Department of Health, and at
these have learned more about dag
nosinc q case than they would have
learned in several years of ordinary
practice. :.
$50 much has been done in this line
said Dr.. Zingher, "and so much care do
the private physicians nov take IN
diagnosing cases that we are invariably
able 10 confirm the diagnosis by one OF
our own men and remove The child TO
hospital within a very few days after
the onset of the disease. In some in
stances private physicians have worked
mad onh informed OF
suspected case so quickly that the child
has been in 2 hospital within q few
hours after the first symptoms Of pa
Ialyss we're discovered
Quick Work Saves Two.
DR.. Zingher called particular atten-
tion to several patients whO were sent
to the Willard Parker Hospital last
week. One Of these was brought in by
private physician at o'clock in the
morning, the diagnosis confirmed and
the child given an injection of immune
blood serum before daybreak As re-
suit of this quick diagnosis and treat
ment the patient thus far has failed TO
develop paralysis, and physicians do
. not consider it likely that 1t will.
Another child was brought 10 the
hospital at o'cloc!. in the morning,
less than six hours after il became Ill
with what at first appeared &c be ordi-
nary summer complaint. An examina-
ton of the spinal fluid quickly con-
iirmed the suspicion Of the private
b physician that the child had paralysis
Like the other. this child was treated
with serum at once. and will leave the
hospital without a trace Of paralysis.
Health officials declared yesterday
that knowledge gained during the prog
ress OF the present epidemic will be Of
incalculabe value should another
threaten the city. Many experts hold
. 70 the belief that one Of the reasons for
the spread Of the plague this year was
that the average physician. knowing
very little about the disease and unable
20 make a proper diagnosis. treated the
patient for some other illness long
enough for others 10 be infected.
Serum Does Much Good.
DR.. Zingher said that he continues
20 obtain good results from the use Of
immune blood serum. although greatly
handicapped by the lack Of blood Only
fourteen ounces were obtained yester-
day, six and eight ounces being drawn
from the veins Of two men, who asked
that their names be withheld DR..
Zingher has renewed MS appeal 20 for
mer paralysis patients. The amount Of
blood obtained from one person may
be sufficient 70 prevent q child being
crippled for life.
Health Commissioner Haven Emer-
-------