The Washington herald., 1916-08-14
Infantile Paralysis-Part w.

So grave is the condition Of a child suf-
fering from infantile paralysis that every
part Of the treatment outlined herein
Is Of the greatest Importance. To con-
tinue the subject of the baths, the child
must not be left alone in II for a second.
therefore an assistant Is required. Every
moment Of the time employed In the
bath must be fully and advantageously
occupied in order to prevent deformity
and restore tone to the muscles. This
requires constant vigilance because con-
traction Of the limbs resulting in shorten
Ing is common, and relaxation. resulting
in lensthening. is also seen. The limbs
must be greatly exercised, and move
ments can be made in the hot water
baths much earlier than they can be
made in bed. First the thumb of a para
lyzed hand, or the toes of foot can be
moved from side to side and to and fro.
partially contracted drawn up) leg
can be Strengthened out in the hot water
with far less pain that out of IT.
As the movements begin to come back,
q series of exercises should be planned
for the bath; boat, a celluloid duck, a
magnetic fish. or a rubber ball should be
fioated in the water and a game made
to push it TO and fro. For an older
child. movements should be deliberately
planned and the child constantly en-
SONi obNu " see iO" II eau push
with the lame foot and hand. and how
well It can do 1t in the water.
These exercises should be continued
In bed, especially after the early stage,
when the pain is less and the hot baths
are no longer so necessary. They should
be carried out in the form of play and
be made attractive with offers OF re-
wards and encouragements. 1t Is cruel
to threaten a child with lameness If 1t
doesn't do as it is bidden: everything for
the child must be done in a spirit OF love
and infinite patience, and all the exer-
cises carefully regulated to suit each
child's needs.
Beginning with three times and increas-
ing the number by two each day. the
following exercises are suggested for the
hands and arms:
Opening and clinching the hands: ro-
tating each arm, the mother supporting
the little arm at the wrist IL necessary
touching the shoulder, first one and then
the other, with each arm; touching the
top Of the head; holding the arm ex-
tended, forward, sideways and above the
head for five minutes Cany of the simple
school calisthenics can be used. For
the legs and feet. the following is sug-
gested: Wriggle the toes, moving each
foot up and down and from side to side
raising one foot and placing its heel on
the toes OF the other; drawing the leg
up to the knee and extending It; sepa-
rating the feet and drawing them to-
gether again; kicking up in the air.
Many OF these exercises can be prac-
ticed while sitting up in a chair. but it is
most important to begin them at once
while the child is still in bed Gradu-
ally power will return to the paraIyzed
limbs, the child Will SIT up. move about.
tNYr IN, hAl
he can be dressed and put in a chair.
the deep water bathing can be reduced
to one bath a day, but II should still be
used for splsshing and moving freely in.
To encourage greater freedom OF move
ments, the child can now be placed on a
rug upon the floor, avoiding drsughts,
and made to roll over. to crawl and creep
after a ball. etc. For older children. any
number Of games and devices can be