Evening journal., 1916-08-23
Effective Serum Sought TO
Cure InfanfiIe Paralysis

are liable TO commit the tallacy OF
inferring that fruit is an agent. This
is, indeed. an injustice 10 fruit
However. considering the meteoro- |
logical conditions OF the months Of
July. August and September. which |
means generally the supernormal pro-
duction Of dust because OF the range
OF temperature and the rapid evapor-
alton OF rainfall. there is little doubt
that the natural dissemination OF
dust particles In these months means
the transportation OF organisms.
which cause an epidemic. There are
certain facts connected with the dis
ease which suggest the likelihood OF
its being carried and spread by in
sects. The nearest the doctors have
been able to blame the spread OF the
disease on the diabolical fly was In an
experiment. by Or. Flexner at the
Rockefeller Institute. Or. Flexner
showed that II flies we're allowed TO
feed on the spinal cord Of a monkey
dying or the disease by inocuiation,
they may carry the virus for forty
eight hours, but hardly longer. Con-
sidering the unusual energy OF a ny,
Il is not difficult TO guess how far he
can travel In that time. Il would he
] possible for this single insect to bring
the message OF death to at least ten
babies. other things unjustly sus-
pected Of being carriers are domestic
pets, chickens. horses and pigs. There
is no evidence against these animals
or fowls.
Some Old Symptoms.
Some findings in recent epidemics
which may or many not have signlf-
cance, are that in one State 10 cases
developed while the victims we're
swimming, wading or bathing. others
have been attacked Immediately after
a minor accident. severe shock, over
exertion or a bad fall
And while physicians are getting
gray hairs searching for the dimlnu-
tive pest which causes all this terri
BILE suffering. Il devolves on the sur
geons TO effect cures where partial
or complete paralysis has set in.
Some OF the treatments are extreme
~ rare; some cures are the result
OF expert technique and others are
nothing more nor less than the TAX
ing OF chances, with a fair average
Of successful results.
The following measures, which are
by no means radical. but highly
necessary TO the minimiation OF the
mortality rate. are in use at most OF
the great hospitals. The patholog.
ical department OF Johns Hopkins
has accomplished much In this man.
ner. as have the now thronged and
! congested New York institutions. OF
: course. only the acute stages OF in
4 fantile paralysis are dealt with Will
the knife.
Rest a Good Treatment.
5 Meddlesome treatment by stimulat.
I ing drugs and counter irritants has
A been much dlscredited OF late. Rest
4 FIRST OF all Is important CatharticI
l are OF probable value as are drug
: which set free formalin in the spinl
l., (cerebraD fluid. Hexamethylenamir
e is said TO be an effective drug in TN
l. supposed prevention OF the effects o
D. the irst stages. When the case as
n sumes acute pathological conditions
e the first step is to keep the patien
recumbent and quiet and 10 avoid II
E. ritation OF the muscles supplied b
Il the affected nerve centers. Massag
II and electricity are therefore not 10
s. used until there Is reason to believ
D. that the subsidence OF the infiamma
u ton has taken place.
Another point OF great importanc
p in early treatment is the prevention
u of deformities which result from tn
= contraction Of muscles and tendons
O. In the pediatric clinics, when a child
!, foot or hand Is contracted by paraly
sis. weights are appended and kee
=, the member in normal position Will
= surgery measures are planned. Splint
also are frequently used. Most i'm
portant and effective of surgica
q treatment is transportation OF ten
n dons.
a "A This method has passed through II
,s period OF extravagant claims and In
n evitable condemnation. II consists q
a transplanting the end OF a health
a muscle 10 the insertion of a paralyze
= tendon, the foot, hand, OF knee bein
i. thus rebalanced. Since surgeons hav
,. learned to prolong tendons by sill
"A fbres. the range and application {
9. the operations have increased. Tn
is operation is planned, the good muscl
In is dissected, and If II is too short,
In heightened by heavy silk. Then II
al inserted into the paralyzed tendon,
sound tendon forms about the silk an
life is injected into the deadened abr
n silk As TendOns.
,s As a means OF stiffening and mai
ing useless joints stable such joint
e. are opened and cartilage is removes
is This proves applicable to the hi
n. ankle, elbow in children under
m years. For the correction of 'fo'
IS drop" in paralyzed legs, surgeons III
ID anterior silk ligaments. the idea beir
ne to prevent fiexion of the foot. but sti