The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1916-07-29
INFANTILE PARALYSIS.


suspected, was not detinItel,
shown to be contagious until 1909
Ii has been proven that the germ
exists in the nose and throat, and
that undoubtedly some well per
SONS are "carriers". Domestic an
imals, cats, dogs, etc, are classed
among the agencies which may
transmit 1t is quite probable
that the so called "distemper'
which at times attacks horses and
dogs, Is caused by this same infec
ton. Flies may carry on their
feet.
A study Of epidemics of Enfan
tile Paralysis dOes not Justify the
present wide spread alarm. 10
every large city, likewise in rural
regions, every year a few cases de.
We or. The alarming epldemics
in the past ten years have occur
ed in New York City, Buffalo.
Kansas City, Los Angeles, and
portions of Massachusetts, Yer
mont, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,
aud in certain district in Texas
Records show that while the dis
ease may spread considerably IN
places near where 1t is epidemic,
that points distant have little Iea
son TO fear. Therefore, there is
no cause for country wide panic
Infantile Paralysis is difficult to
control 10 the locality where it Is
epidemic, because there are al
ways many mild and unrecognized
cases. When an epidemic exists
in any section the number of cases
reported from other parts of the
country IS greater, probably be !
cause attention is conferred on the !
disease.
A noted authority gives the fol
lowing as good rules in time of
(a) Keep away from all per-
sons sick with the disease, sus
pected of having 1t, or who have
recently had 1t, and all persons
who have been recently in contact
with the disease.
(b) Keep away from the vicini.
~ of cases.
(c) Keep away from flies
(d) Keep your premises clean
(e) Keep the dust down.
(f) Keep away from sick dogs
md cats.
(g) Keep in good health gener-
lily.
The technical term for this dis
'ase, Poliomyelitis, means inf ANA
ion of the gray matter of the
'pinal cord.
The symptoms of onset are by
10 means the same. Authorities
1--WE as the commonest type of be-
ginning symptoms:
Acute illness of an indefinite ma
are lasting from two TO three
lays. with symptoms of fever, di
lrrhea, vomiting and followed by
paralysis. There may be other
y mptoms present as cough, and
Undue restl-ssness. In a small
of cases the nervous
Elections sres so prominent that
hey suggest cerebral rather than
pinal disturbance. The common.
st combination Of symptoms are
ever, diarrhea and cough with or
Without dysphagla difficulty in
wallowlng) or fever, vomiting,
ough and diarrhea In the be.
inning Of the disease, the patient
lay feel sore all over.
The disease is transmitted
trough contact from acute cases
E we'll carriers"
While knowledge of the germ is
OF complete 1t is common sense
take every precantlon.
The physicians unite In advising:
Isolation of patients.
Isolation of those who come in
ontact with the patients.
Thorough dIsinfection of all dis.
hsrges, of soiled bedding, towels,
&c.
Prompt reporting of all cases or
lspected cases.
ln time of an epidemic children
lould be kept away from moving
cture shows, Sundal school and
] public gatherings.
Every child should be closely
atched, aud the advice of
nysician had Immediately, even
cases of slight illness. State :
oard of Health. +.