New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-07-29
MVANTILE PARALYSIS,

: The tee hmcal term Tor TINS dl
ease, Pole. nyelitiS. means init;
nation of TIT gray matter OF tn
spinal cord.
The symptoms of onset are b
no means the same, Au'horltle
give as the commonest type OF be
ginning symptoms:
Acute illness of an INDEFINITE
nature lasting from two 20 thre
days. with symptoms of fever
| diarrhea. vomiting and FOLLOWED
by paralysis. There may be 9th
er symptoms present as cough
and undue rcStlesSneSS. In q
small proportion of eases the merry
Gus affections are so prominent
they suggest cerebral ral'o,
than spinal disturbance. The
commonest combination of sNlup-
toms are fever. diarrhea and
cough with or without dyhpha gia
(dltflcrlty in swallowing) or feN-
err. vomiting. cough and diarrhea,
In the beginning of the disease.
TIE patient may feel sore all ov-r.
The disease is transmitted
through contact from acute eases
or well carriers.
While knowledge 0f the germ
not complete it is common sense
tN take every preca,ltion.
The physicians unite in advis-
ing:
Isolation of patients.
Isolation of those who come IN
contact with the patients
Thorough reporting of all cas-
es. or suspected cases..
ln, time of an epidemie. chill
dren should be- kept away from
moving picture shows. Sunday
school and all public gatherings.
Every child should be closely
watched, and the advice OF a
physician had immediately, even
in eases of slight illnesS
1nfantile Paralysis, though
long suspected, was not definitely
shown to, be contagious until
1909. 1t has been proven that
the germ. exists in the nose and
throat. and that undoubtedly
some we'll persons are carriers.
Domestic animals, cats. dogs. etc.
are classed among the agencies
which may transmit. 1t is, quite
probable that the so-ca.led DDS
temper which at times attacks
horses and dogs, is caused by
this same Infection. Flies may
carry on them. feet.
A study of epidemics Of Infan-
tile Paralysis does not justify
the present wide spread alarm.
In every large, city, likewise in
rural regions, every years q few
cases develop. The alarming cpl
denies in the, past ten years have
occurred in New York City, Buff
falo. Kansas City, Los Angeles,
and portions of Massachusetts,
Vermont, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Iowa. and in a. certai ndistrict in
Texas. Recods show that while
The disease may spread consid-
'rably in places near where it is
epidemic, that points distant have
title reason to fear. Therefore,
here is no cause for = country
vide panic.
Infantile Paralysis is difficult
% control in the locality where it
$ epidemic, because there are
always many mild and unrecog-
lized cases. When an epidemic
'xists in any section the number
# eases reported from other parts
# the country is greater, prob
bly, because attention is center
ID on the disease.
A noted authority gives the
ollowinR as good rules in time
# prevalence:
(a) Keep away from all per-
ons sick with the disease, sus-
'ected Of having it, or who have
'ecently had it, and all persons
Who have been recently in con-
act with the disease.
co. Keep away from the vi
initv Of cases.
(c) Keep away from flies.
(d) Keep your premises clean.
(e) Keep the dust down.
(f) Keep away from sick dogs
nd cats.