The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-07-27

New OrK,-Ine Coilultl'h N"''" w.
lnfantile paralysis is the result Oh IN
attack by an organism or minute para
site on the contents of the spinal cora
into which 1t makes its way Inc
spiual cord becomes filled with bIoou
and the sensory and motor cells, rs
they are called, become diSorganized
and broken. 4 healthy baby may be
turned into a cripple over night by the
disease, which for "A long time haiHcd
the most expert skill in therapeutics.
Or. Simon Flexner, head of the
Rockefeller institute, and the man
whose diScoy in connection WIN
the disease have given him an inter
national reputation, declares, reports
the New York Times, that, according
10 all records, infantle paralysis
seems "to pick the strong ana wei
children in preference to the weak
vigorous health seems To be no pro-
lection against the disease
"The infectious agent enters the
body chiefly. # not exclusively, through
the mucous membranes Of the nose
and throat" he says. "PoIiomyeIitiS,
or infantiIe paralysis, affects chiefly,
but not exclusively, young persons; 1t
may and not infrcquently does affect
adults and no age Is absolutely free of
danger of Infection
Doctor FIcxner appeared before
meeting of physicians in Brooklyn ana
explained to them how the disease
could be contracted.
"The virus Of infantile paralysis eX-
lists In the seCretiOns of the nose ana
throat and In the Intcstincs,' he said.
Hence the mode of spread may be
by kissing, coughing, and sneczing,
which carry the secretions of the nose
and throat from one person who may
be infected to other persons,
Since the disease attacks by prefer
ence young children and infants whose
nasal and mouth secretiOns are wiped
away by mother or nurse, the fingers
of these persons readily become con
Eliminated The care Of other children
by persons with contaminated fingers
may, therefore, lead 10 the conveying
of the Infectious micru-organiSm lndl.
rectiy from the sick to the healthy
This danger also exists I'm COunecti'u
with vendors of food which Is eaten
uucooked. The existence Of cases Of
infantlc paralysis in the homes Of vcns
doris Of food is. therefore, perpetual
source Of danger. Dissemination can
be made by means of house flies.
AS to Treatment.
"Treatmcnt involves isolation Of the
acutsly in, proper care aud destruction
Of contaminated discharges, supcryi.
sion of persons In contact with the III
and of all vendors Of food exclusion
of all flies and general sanitary con
troll OF the personnel and habItatlonS OF
families in which the disease exists.
mo age Is absolutely free of danger
of infection, although infantilc paraIy-
sis affects chiefly young persons. 1t
not infrequen.ly affects adults More.
over, as indicated the disease Is one
that can be communicated by healthy
persons who have been In contact with
the sick. but who are themselves we'll"
Reports of clinical cases Indicate
that the onset Of the disease IS likely
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