The Washington herald., 1916-08-07
Infantile Paralysis III.

Paralysis comes on after the little one
IS attacked with fever, vomiting and
convulsions. As said before, during
an epidemic the paralysis comes on early;
II may begin with a slight dragging Of
one foot The left is the most frequent
thts is an Interesting point) and the
paralyzed muscles are usually fabby. not
rigid.
It was proved by experiments that this
disease may be communicated to mon
keys and that in them it is very severe;
but while the contagious character of
the epidemic was thus established, we
do not know its exact cause. It is be-
Ieved that the germ to which the infec-
ton is probably due in its epidemic form
IS so infnitesimal that it cannot be seen
with the most powerful lenses now at our
command.
Is infantile paralysis always a fatal
disease. and, if not, is it ever completely
recovered from?
1t is sometimes fatal: we regard It as
extremely grave always, and complete
recOveries are the rule and not the ex-
ception. Everything depends upon the
treatment, and because this is Of such
tremendous importance in this disease
am going to enter very fully into it not
because any one but an experienced ply
sician should attempt to cope with an
attack, but because mothers can do so
much to help the physician If they pos
sess an intelligent understanding Of the
disease. and also because much of the
treatment must be carried out by the
family. The physician can only advise
He cannot take the time to actually carry
out his suggestions.
A child seized with this disease is
gravely i'll and cannot be moved, but it
must be placed at absolute rest, and the
most important thing to do first is to
unload the bowels with castor oil, calo-
mel or an enema This should be fol-
lowed for days and even weeks with a
daily laxative, either citrate Of magnesia
or Rochelle salts. After the dose give
some orange or other fruit Juice 1t
should be given a half hour before break
fast and act half after breakfast. The
child's nOurishment during the acute
attack must be simple; II It is beyond
the age Of infancy, give it milk. tunket,
soft boiled eggs, chicken broth. toast
and fruit juices. and feed it every four
hours.
For the headache. an ice cap should
be kept on the head. and for the fever
spongtng the body with tepid water and
alcohol Is recomme mended. but II the bath
treatment. which I will describe, Is car
rtsd out, the spongtng need not be done
It has been found that the best possible
thing to allay the nervous symptoms
and most speedily overcome the paralysis
Is hot water bathing. Lay the patient
in bath Of water at least twelve inches
deep. and let him lie in it at least fifteen
minutet every four hours. three to four
times daily, and one at night, II neces-
sary, to soothe him.
While in the bath, the temperature Of
the water should be made still higher
until 1t reaches 1O2 and 1O4 degrees NJ, by
adding hot water. 1t must not be allowed
TO cool on, Is a chill may follow. The
little one is then lifted from the bath
and rolled in a blanket under which it
Is dried. These hot baths relieve pain,
promote sleep and may limit the infam-
nation in the spinal cord. Where there
Is severe pain, with the head held stiff,
1t should be allowed to rest in the water