Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-30


iapses almost at once into the drowsy state"
curious thing Is tho unheralded advent OF
the paralysis. One may observe in the mornina
that child can move his arms easily: a few
hours later. on going to the bedside. the patient
IS found lying quietly, as before, but when he
rolls over one arm falls back limp
ono OF the peculiartties OF the disease Is the
very unsystemstic distribution Of the paralysis.
Thus. In one case both the legs are paralyzed
and IN another one leg and one arm. In a third
there is paralysis OF one lower leg and one
upper arm. or perhaps facial paralysis
Most frequent are paralyses OF the leg, and
next to this paralyses OF the arm. resulting from
injuries from the fifth to the first segment OF
the spinal cord.
But In large number Of cases the paralysis
Is traceable to some injury caused to definite
locality In the brain by the virus. To these
cases facial paralysis belongs. Another injury
resulting from tho brain affection Is paralysis
OF the eye muscle. The investigators believe
that slight attacks OF infantle paralysis are
frenuent cause OF squirting
Disturbances OF speech are rrepuently net
With and may be OF all degrees Of severity from
hoarseness to complete Inability to speak.
very often In cases which have not received
sk,ul treatment the parents imagine that the
!ittc ono is suffering from sore throat, when
ne 70 really In the grip Of disease that will
cripple him FOR life. Difficulties in SWALLOWING
ars sometirnes seen at the acute onset of the
rlaeaae. This may be passing symptom which
lasts day or Two and consists only OF Inability
70 swallow solids. In other cases there may be
t'tat Inability to swallow. lasting for many
days.
remarkable feature is the startling effect upon
the senses shortly before DEATH The little suf.
ferer then becomes endowed with an abnormal
acuieness. of perception. With the onset of diff.
SUh oh Ia lao etc anf
the disease. 1t seems almost as II the children
we're suddenly awakened and made to realize
the struggle before them. Little children seem
to age in few hours. One sees needless,
careless, sleepy baby become all at once wide
awake high.strung and alert to the crisis.
which is breathing.
The whole mind and body appear to be con
centrated on respiratton. say the Rockefeller
Institute experts "Respration becomes an
active. voluntary process, and every breath rep
resents hard work. The child gives the impress
sion Of one who has fight on his hands All
he wants is to be let alone, not to be interfered
with, to be allowed to carry out his fight on his
own lines. Instinctively he husbands his
strength refuses food and speaks when speech
little child OF four so helplessly paralyzed that
she was unable to move. but with mind which
seemed to take In the whole situation, said to
the nurse clearly, but rather abruptly, between
her hard.taken breaths: My arm hurts turn
me over; scratch my. npstril.' and then when
the doctor approached: Let me alone, doctor;
don't touch my chest"
When death occurs directly from the
paralysis and not from complication, It 10 due
to the failure OF the muscles that control The
act OF breathing. These muscles are the dia-
phragm and the intercostal muscles which are
attached to the ribs. The patient may live
after paralysis Of either. the diaphragm OF the
intercestal muscles, but when both become
parayzed breathing ceases and death occurs.
The average mortality Of the different cpl.
denies OF intsntte paralysis varies between 10
and 20 per cent.
The Rockefeller institute investigators
admit there is no specific cure Cor infantile
paralysis and 1t IL impossible to forecast tho
progress OF the disease: Even when paralysis
has, begun to show itself It is Impossible, to4eu
whether 1t VII! progress to the point Of making
the sufferer hopeless cripple will Kill hin,. Or
will leave him uninjured.1 The doctors cay