The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-15
PARALYSIS CASES
ARE NOW TWENTY-FIVE
Few Districts, However, Have More
Than One Victim Of Dread
Disease

Twenty-Five cases Of infantiie pa
ralysis, including several cases the
diagnosis OF which is still in doubt,
have been reported to the State Board
of Health since September /.
While this number is seven more
than was reported during all of Sep
TENDER. 1915. 1t is still we'll below the
figures for several months in the
records of the State Board of Health.
when the disease was found in the
State, but was not epidemic IN form.
The cases reported come from thir-
teen counties and cities. in only two
of which have there thus far been
any reasons to apprehend a possible
epidemic.
Now that the state quarantine
against infantile paralysis is in full
operation, the State Board of Health
has taken up the task of seeing that
the schools of the Commonwealth are
supplied before their opening with
sanitary conveniences to prevent the
possible spread of infantile paralysis
The board issued special regula-
lions on this subject at the time quar-
antine was declared. These regula-
tons forbid the opening OF the schools
OF the State. public and private, until
each Of them has been supplied with
two sanitary closets. A second regu-
lation forbids the use of the common
drinking cup.
I'VE know from the Investigations"
states this weeks bulletin OF the State
Board of Health. that the virus Of
infantile paralysis has been found in
the secretions of the mouth, nose and
intestines of persons suffering with
infantile paralysis. One OF the surest
ways for the disease to spread, there
fore, is for the secretions to be placed
where they can reach the bodies Of
other children. Equally dangerous is
the custom of many persons using the
same drinking vessel. If person
suffering with infantile paralysis in
one of the schools were to be allowed
to use a glass that other children
used. the disease would almost GER
tainly spread. 1t Is to prevent these
that the State Board of Health has
acted
school authorities must realize
that the danger Of infantile paralysis
is at its maximum when children con-
gregate together, as they do In the
schools. Every pupil Is subjected TO
many times the normal hazard of
contracting infantile paralysis. This
places a very heavy responsibility on
the school boards of the counties II
any school failed to have sanitary
privtes and should then be the scene
OF an outbreak of the disease, no ex-
cuses would be taken by the parents
Of those children who were smitten.
II there ever was a time when no
chances should be taken. 1t IL now.
Our schools ought to be the healthiest
places In the community. If they are
not. 1t Is for parents to find the reason
and to correct it,
AS part of the campaign to &C
quaint the public with the character
of infantile paralysis and the content
of the regulations recently issued by
the state Board of Health. the board
has published a large edition of
brief bulletin on the disease. This
contains a summary of the present
knowledge of infantile paralysis and
the text of the regulations. Copies
have been sent persons whose names
are on the mailing list of the board
and copies will also be sent free Of
cost to all who request them.