The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-09-03
bulletin Issued by State eHalth De
partment.)

ltEtiuGHlsl
Infantile paralysis is probably
caused by very minute organism
found in the nasal, mouth and bowel
d h'targes OF those who have the dis
ia. or who are carriers of the germ
without themselves being sick If this
germ can be prevented from passing
from the infected to the well person,
the disease will cease. 1t is probably
spread directly or indirectly, through
the medium Of infective secretions.
Account must therefore be taken by
communities Of every means by which
such secretions are disseminated.
Promiscuous expectoration should be
controlled. The common drinking cup
affords a method for the interchange
OF material Of this nature and should
therefore be abolished Rigid clean
liness of glasses and utensils at soda
fountains. in saloons and other public
places should be enforced. Flies,
reaches and other vermin, by coming
in contact with infective secretions.
may possibly convey them to our food
and thus directly bring about the de-
velopment OF disease. Therefore elm
mate insects. Street and house dust
bear a definite relation to the spread
of many infections and it is not I'M
reasonable to presume that they may
be a factor in the dissemination Of
infantlle paralysis. Maintain strict
cleanliness Of streets. yards and alleys
in order to prevent the breeding of
insects and other yermin. See that
all garbage and waste are properly
cared for and collected at regular and
frequent intervals. Guard all food sup
plies, especially milk and other per-
ishabe products. Digestive troubles
of children arising from the indiges-
ton Of food of questionable quality
may lower resistance. Assemblies of
children in infected localities are to
he discouraged. If not actually forbid.
den. While the above measures are
in a sense general, and applicable to
many epidemic diseases, their import
ancc should not be overlooked.
Individual preventive measures may
be thus summarized:
a physician should he summoned at
once and the health officer be imme-
diately notified Of the presence Of the
disease. If the disease is present in
the community, medical aid should be
sought whenever a child is sick no
matter how light the illness: many
cases Of infantile paralysis begin with
slight indisposition. Should tho i'll
ness prove TO be infantile paralysis,
Isolate the patient, place competent
person in charge, and reduce all COM
munication with the sick room To a
minimum. Hospital care is preferable.
not only for the child but in order
to better safeguard against the spread
Of the disease. The sick room should
be well ventilated and screened. Nasal
and mouth secretions should be re-
ceived in cloths, placed in paper bag,
and burned The clothing of the child,
the he'd linen, and the excrctions
should be disinfected in the same man
ner as for typhoid fever. that is by
boiling. the long continued applica-
ton Of five per cent carholc. or other
well recognized disinfectant. The
same is true for dishes and drinking
vessels. Nurses should exercise the
same precautions as regards cleanli-
ness Of hands in caring for infantile
paralysis patients as for those aflict-
ed with other infectious diseases.
A child may convey the disease TO
others even after lapse of several