The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-25
INFANT PARALYSIS
BULLETIN ISSUED
Methods of Handling and
Preventing Disease Given
Out By Government

People in Birmingham are receiving
bulletin from the United States health
service on the prevention OF infantlle
paralysis. 1t is pointed out in this state
ment that the disease is spread through
nasal mouth and bowel discharges OF
| those who have the disease or those VINO
are carriers of the germ without them
selves suffering from the malady. 1t IS
declared that while the disease has not
yet been perfectly mastered by medical
science, it will cease entirely II germs
can be stopped from passing from in
fected persons to those who are free
from the disease.
A precaution is conveyed in the state
ment of the government health autnori-
ties in that child can convey the dis
ease for weeks after it has apparently
been cured. 1t is contended that quaran-
tine should be maintained for from six to
eight weeks after the patient mas peen
declared well of the trouble, and that all
precautions and disinfection of the room
should follow.
| The bulletin of the United States pub
lie health service follows:
ITO control the present epsuemic of
infantile paralysis, according to state
| ment issued by the United States public
| health service today, the chain of in
| lection between persons harboring germs
| of the disease and the well members OF
| the community should be broken. In
| fantile paralysis is probably caused by a
very minute organism found in the nasal,
mouth and bowel discharges of those who
| have the disease or who are carriers OF
the germ without themselves Sufferlng
from the ailment. All of the steps in the
spread of the infection are not known,
but if this germ can be prevented from
passing from the infected to the we'll per-
son, the disease will cease.
'Infantile paralysis Is not a disease OF
recent origin. Sporadic or scattered cases
have occurred throughout the country
for many years but it is only during
the last decade that the infection has
| assumed epidemic proportions in the Uni
ted States. The present epidemic in New
York city, on account of it's magnitude
and virulence, has awakened the resi-
residents of many communities to the
danger of the Importation of the disease
into their own midst. This danger is
real, but if due precautions are exercised
| it Is believed that the epidemic will SUBJ
| side.
THE acutal control of the present cpl
demic must be left to the city. state and
| federal health authorities These organi-
cations will properly quarantine and care
| for affected persons, prescribe sanitary
| mea sures and limit as may be necessary
the travel of individuals in order to
protect neighboring districts from the in
| lection. individuals and communities,
however, can do much toward their own
protection.
"Poliomyelitis is probably spread di-
rectly 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 drink
ing cup affords q method for the iner-
change Of material of this nature and
should, therefore be abolished. Rigid
cleanliness of the glasses and utensils at
soda fountains, in saloons and other pub
lie 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 develop
| ment of the disease.
Therefore eliminate insects. Street and
house dust bear definite relation to
the spread of many infections, and 1t is
not unreasonable to presume that they
| may be factor in the dissemination of
| infantile paralysis. Maintain strict clean
| liness of streets, yards and alleys in or
der to prevent the breeding of insects and
other vermin.
See that all garbage and waste are
properly cared for and collected at regu-
| lar and frequent intervals. Guard all
/ food supplies, especially milk and other
perishable products. Digestive troubles
of children arising from the ingestion of
| food of questionable quality may lower
resistance. Assemblies of children in in
| tnd IN "a
| if not actually forbidden. While the
above measures are in a sense general,
and applicable to many epidemic dis
, eases, their Importance should not be
| overlooked.
individual preventive measures may
| be thus summarized:
| Summon physician at once and inn
mediately notify the health officer OF the
presence of the disease. If the disease is
present in the community, medical aid
| should be sought whenever child is
sick no matter how light the illness;
many cases of infantile paralysis begin
| with a slight indisposition. Should the
illness prove to be infantle paralysis
isolate the patient, place a competent
person in CHARGE and reduce all com
munication with the sick room to a mini
mum. Hospital care is preferable, not
| only for the child, but in order to better
4 safeguard against the spread of the dis
ease. The sickroom should be well VEN
tilated and screened. Nasal and mouth
secretions should be received in cloths,
! placed in paper g, and burned. The
clothing of the child, the bed linen, and
the excretions should be dsinfected in
the same manner as for typhoid fever.
that is by boiling, the long continued ap-
| plication of per cent carbolic or other
| well recognized disinfectant. The same
is true for dishes and drinking vessels.
| Nurses should exercise the same precau-
tons as regards cleanliness of hands In
caring for infantile paralysis patients as
for those afflicted with other infectious
diseases.
"a child may convey the disease to
others even after lapse of several
weeks. For this reason quarantine should
be maintained for considerable period
usually from six to eight weeks. and
the above precautions should be adhered
L 70 ir Si fao ian ~ h