Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-18
SCIENTISTS SEEK
CURE FOR PLAGUE
Health Authorities of Many
States Confer in Washington
on lnfantile Paralysis.
ITS CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN
All Agreed That Measures Are
Necessary to Prevent Wide
spread Outbreak.
ITS CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN

RSdu outbreak.
WASHINGTON Angus, 17-piaps for
more vigorous campaign TO prevent
further spread OF infantile paralvsis
were made here to-day at a conference
of health authorities OF mos, Of the
States with officials Of tho Federal
Public Health Service.
Resolutions viii be adopted to-mor-
row by the conference. in which emil
ncnt plague cXperts, scientists and bac-
teriolosists are participating. ou,lin-
Ing definite proposals for checking dis
scmination OF the disease.
Few of those present to-day OK
pressed alarm that the epidemic might
assume countrywide proportions, but
they uniformly declared measures were
necessary 10 guard against "A wide
spread outbreak. Admission was freely
made by many exports that the cause
OF the plague is unknown and the
means or its transmission not conclu-
sivcly determined
UNIFORM REGULATIONS
FOR TRAVEL RECOMNIENDED
Uniformity Of regulations for travel
On railroad trains. steamships and other
carriers was urged by Secretary Nc
Adoo, OF the Treasury Department. in
opening the conference, and, while sew
eral speakers held that general quar-
ant!ne was unnecessary, the conference
probably VIII recommend a system of
uniform Inspection. issues of health
certificates and cooperation between
Federal. State and railroad authorities
10 safeguard travellers
special committee to propose
methods for control OF the epidemic.
including transportation regulations,
was appointed TO report Tomorrow
It's members are: DIR. John s. Fulton
OF Maryland, chairman: DR.. r ID. Tut
tie. of Washington state: Dr Ennion
9. Williams Of Virginia; DR. H. II.
Bracken. of Minnesota. and Surgeon
Charles F.. Banks. head OF The Public
Health Service corps hghting the
plague in New York.
Another committee was appointed to
recommend a uniform method of coll
lecting and transmitting statistics and
information regarding the diseases
progress and control.
y national survey presented by the
State delegates showed ll.1l7 cases in
the States reporting since January l.
EVIDENCE is AGAINST
INSECT TRANSMISSION
Assistant Surgeon Rucker, who, with
Acting Surgeon General a. II. Glennan,
presided over the conference, gave out
tonight the following synopsis OF the
views of the speakers:
1T appears 10 be the consensus OF
opinion that segregation OF persons
with the disease is desirable, and that
opening OF schools is also advisable.
Travel is dangerous when II permits
movement OF acute or chronic carriers
of the disease. The evidence is against
insect transmission. and transmission
by food is hypothetical"
Reporting on a scientific study of
symptoms and control of the epidemic
In New York. conducted by many State.
city and Federal scientists. Surgeon
Wade Frost. OF the Public Health Ser
vice. said:
FRANKLY we do not know how the
disease is transmitted nor its cause.
The evidence strongly points to hu-
mans a the carriers. The evidence is
that il is purely a human disease, and
il contagious a large proportion OF
persons exposed arc immune. 1t must
he spread largely from other sources
thap sick persons. Our theories
do not exclude transmission by insects.
Transmission by the lower animals is
Hypothetical. We hardly suspect any
but dogs or cats. It's rapid spread in
dicates human carriers
Surgeon Frost said the disease is
most severe in rural communities.
There are few infections of persons
exposed in their own families, he
stated.
SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS
IN SOUTHERN STATES
Following is a summary of conditions
in those Southern States from which
delegates were present:
AIabama-Dr. Glenn Andrews. sixty
four cases reported from July IA to
August a.
Arkansas-Dr. c. w. Garrison. state
health officer. three cases reported.
Kcntucky-Dr j. N. Mccormack,
eighteen cases this year: none import
ed and most in rural districts. Rigid
local five weeks quarantine reCula-
tions. but none against other States.
North Carolina--Dr. w. s. Rankin,
twenty cases, two deaths; conditions
not unusual. except five cases in ono
town in last three weeks. Only two
cases traccable to New York. Seven
teen deaths last year. No state quar-
antine.
South Carolina-Dr. j. Il. iIayne.
eighteen cases in July and thirty-seven
i'm August with none before. Develop
ing in Wagner and Springfield districts.
No State quarantine.
Tennessee--Dr. Shoulders. twenty
seven cases i'm June and nine in July.
all in rural communities. No state
quarantine.
Tcxas--Six cases in June, twenty
two in July, and two in August. No
large cities involved like previous
yoore Nh State nuarantiue