Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-29
BAN PLACED ON
INNOCENT KISS
Adults Are Warned Against Kissing
Children While Infantile ParI-
ysis Is Raging.
DANGER IN SNEEZE AND COUGH
Bright Sunlight Said To Be Enemy of
Virus of Disease-Health Board
Issue Statement.

Springfield, Iu.-The innocent kiss
is made an accomplice of the criminal
house fly in a circular on the causes
and prevention of infantile paralysis
issued by the Illinois State Board of
Health.
During the prevalence of anterior
pOliOmyelitis, which is the technical
should not kiss chilren and children
should not be permitted to kiss one
another" the circular says.
Even mothers, who have cared for
! their sick children, are warned not to
kiss other children of their own.
AS in many other diseases, the fly
is Indicated as one of the chief agents
for transmission of the disease, and
his utter determination and the de-
struction of his favorite abodes are
urged.
Better manners, too, it is said, are
coming to have more and more public
health importance, and persons who
sneeze or cough in public are therefore
advised always to cover the mouth
with a handkerchief
Comparatively Strange Disease.
Although there have been epidemics
of infantile paralysis at various times
since 1905, it is yet disease compare
lively strange as far as definite medi-
cal knowledge of it is concerned The
circular defines it as an acute infeC-
tiOuS disease, usually attacking chill
dren, ushered in, as rule, with the
symptoms common to other acute in
fections and resulting in partial paral-
ysis which comes early in its course.
1t is caused by the invasion of the
I NV inn 10
germ or organism
There is no question but that the
anterior poliomyelitis is caused by d
specific germ reads the board of
health circular. This organism is so
small, however, that it has not until
recently been detected by means of the
microscope. Infectious virus, contain
ing these germs, is found in the brain
and spinal cord and in most of the
other organs of bodies dead of the dis
ease; and in secretion from the nose
and throat
Virus Remains Long.
''This virus also remains for long
periods of time in the throat and nasal
passages of persons who have appar-
entity fully recovered indicating that
individuals may transmit the disease
long after they themselves are well.
Outside the body the infectious ma
teriaI has been found on articles
handled by patients and in the dust of
rooms occupied by them. The disease
is transmitted in all probability, by the
secretions of the patient, dried or~Oth-
erwise, coming in contact with the
nasal passages or throat of the SuS-
ceptible person.
AT the present time, it seems that
the chief means of transmission are
I IL nd M
two latter throwing the virus into the
air whence it is directly carried to the
nose and thrOats of others
Lower animals, birds and fowls
very probably suffer from this infec-
ton; but it is not likely that man &C
uuires infection in very many in
stances from these animals. However,
poultry, pigs, dogs and cats are still
under suspicion
las rule the disease attacks chill
dren under years of age. They fur
nish from so to 80 per cent of the
cases"
Let Sunlight In.
Bright sunlight, it is said, is one of
the worst enemies of the virus of the
disease. Hence, the quarters occupied
bv the patient and the remainder of
the house should permit free access of
sunlight at all times.
Among other preventive measures
advocated is that streets should be
oiled where possible, or sprinkled, in
order to prevent dust from spreading
Carpets should not be swept in such
way as to raise dust. Either sweep
ing compound should be used, or the
broom dampened and the carpet damp
ened with wet tea leaves. Dust cloths
should be oiled. Health authorities,
the circular says, should prohibit the
beating of carpets and rugs near hu-
man habitation.
With the number of cases OF fnfan-
tile paralysis increasing from three TO
six daily, in Illinois, according TO re-
Dorts to the state board of health, the
board is sending these circulars broad
cast throughout the state as means
of spreading information and advice.
The circular warns against panic
over the appearance of the disease.
Even if the disease prevails in cpl
dernic form elsewhere, there Is no oc-
casion for panic. II is time to place
YOUR trust in the physician in whom
YOU have confidence to exercise ordl-
nary care without fear"
You Would Enjoy This Trip.