Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-17
INFANTILE PARALYSIS A DISEASE,
CURABLE AND PREVENTABLE
By WILLIAM EVANS, NJ. D.

TNFANTILE paralysis is preventable It
i is durable. The shrinking of the mus
oles of the legs can be prevented
And over against these facts we have
the following The disease is epidemic in
some parts OF the country, In these sec
tions the number Of cases is large. In
addition to recognized and reported cases
there are large number Of unreported un-
recognized cases. Sporadic cases are being
reported in various parts of the country.
II is affecting grown people as well as
children. The country is in state of acute
alarm
In the last 10 years there have been
many epidemics In various parts OF the
United States. In the sections where these
epidemics have occurred there are thou
sands OF persons with withered limbs
Why is it that these two groups of con-
Trajectory statements are true?
II must be because some known means Of
prevention. cure and rehabilitation are not
being made use of. Perhaps in this season
OF alarm 1t may be possible 10 change our
customary methods Of meeting this disease.
Infantile paralysis has been known for
76 years. Although we have known there
was such disease, and although physicians
were able to diagnose it, virtually all Of
the Information on which prevention is
based has been gathered in the last ten
years.
The virus Of the disease is small body
almost too small 10 see under the most
powerful microscopes II will pass
through the finest filters in use It has
been grown culture media. watched
and observed With the culture thus arti
hcialiy grown the disease has been produced
monkeys when grown and injected into
second set OF monkeys have caused the
disease 70 develop In them.
The virus is very resistant to heat, cold
and drying. Freezing does not kill il, II
can be dried and when again moistened be-
comes virulent again. II lives very well out
side the bodies OF human beings In the
human being the virus is found in the Sc
crelions OF the nose and mouth. Perhaps
they are also found in the intestinal con-
tents as we'll
The Infection gets into the human body
through the nose and mouth. II locates
IN these cavities and may not travel fur
fner. Such persons are carriers. While
not sick, they are capable OF spreading
tha disease TO others.
= persons who become sick from the
Anfeetion the virus passes from the nose
= fhs spinal cord When it reaches the
cord Il Involves the membranes and es-
ueelally the nerve cells in the front part
of the spinal cord This particular area
Il The cord. called the anterior horn, con-
tins the nerve cells which govern motion
lhrough the muscles.
Tie rhle Is that not all the front part
81 the spinal cord or anterior horn is in
4ahed but only SO much OF Il as controls
~ muscles OF the leg. The most frequent
tAzafion IS two or three inches Of the an
.ezIof iacated Ia about the small OF the
14ek In some eases the inhammatory
EeeEas Involves the entire length Of the
eeIa8I eofd o. extends to the brain
#zem hxe 70 ten days after exposure the
4ssa-t begging With fever. The fever is
M AiEh. n4aaflF being about 101 to 193
thaaeh IS some cases Il goes 70 105. The
t4e hsata about 120. IN some cases there
E# tonsElHE, dlarrhea, headache. pains
HNeee khrousaout the body
ite Huaalo srsdemic 1855 Of the TO
1,a ha4 fever. Five possibly did not
81 lhs diseazs STARTED suddenly with
aaacna aains and fosulupg In
#tfe 4H a4sa - sired aehins
e of Izhf #ef
W fih aFtisIeHs