The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-08-01
OF INFANTIE PAR.
ALYSIS.

infantile paralysis, according to a
statement issued by the United States
public health service today, the chain
of infection between persons harbor-
| ing germs of the disease and the well
members of the community should be
| broken. Infantile paralysis is prob
| ably caused by very minute organ
| ism found in the nasal, mouth and
| bowel discharges Of those who have
| the disease or who are carriers of the
germ without themselves suffering
| from the ailment. All of the steps in
| the spread of the infection are not
| known but if this germ can be pre-
vented from passing from the infect
ed to the we'll person, the disease will
cease
Infantile paralysis is not a disease
tered cases have occurred throughout
the country for many years but it is
only during the last decade that the
| infection has assumed epidemic pro-
portions in the United States. The
present epidemic in New York City,
on account of its magnitude and viru-
lence, has awakened the 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
subside
The actual control of the present
| epidemic must be left to the city,
state and federal health authorities
| These organizations will properly
quarantine and care for affected per-
sons, prescribe sanitary measures and
| limit as may be necessary the travel
of individuals in order to protect
neighbOring districts from the infec-
| ton. individuals and communities,
however, can do much toward their
own protection.
Poliomyelitis is probably spread
directly or indirectly, though the me-
dunn of infective secretions. Account
must therefore be taken by commun-
| tiles of every means by which such
secretions are disseminated. Promis-
cuous expectation should be controll-
I
a method for the interchange Of ma
terial Of this nature and should there
| fore be abolished. Rigid cleanliness
| of glasses and utensils at soda foun-
| tains, in saloons and other public
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 de-
| velOpment of disease. Therefore elm
| mate insects. Street and house dust
bear definite relation to the spread
| of many infections and it is not I'M
reasonable to presume that they may
be factor in the dissemination of in
fantile paralysis. Maintain strict
cleanliness of streets, yards and alleys
in order to prevent the breeding of
insects and other vermin. See that
all garbage and waste are properly
cared for and collected at regular and
frequent Intervals. Guard all food
supplies, especially milk and other
perishable products. Digestive trou-
bles of children arising from the in
gestion of food of questionable quail
ity may lower resistance. Assemblies
of children in infected localities are
to be discouraged, if not actually for
hidden. While the above measures are
in sense general, and applicable to
many epidemic diseases, their import
ance should not be overlooked.
Individual preventive measures may
be thus summarized:
Summon a physician at once and
Immediately notify the health officer
Of the presence of the disease. If the
disease is present in the community,
medical aid should be sought when
ever a child is sick no matter how
light the illness; many cases of in
fantile paralysis begin with a slight
indispositiOn. Should the illness prove
to be infantile paralysis isolate the
patient, place competent person in
charge, and reduce all communication
with the sick room to a minimum
Hospital care is preferable, not only
for the child but in order to better
safeguard against the spread of the
disease. The sick room should be
we'll ventilated and screened. Nasal
and mouth secretions should be re-
ceived in cloths, placed in a paper bag,
and burned The clothing of the child,
the bed linen, and the excretions
should be disinfected in the same man
ner as for typhoid fever. that is by
boiling, the long continued applica-
ton af 5 per cent carbolic, or other
well recognized disinfectant. The
same is true for dishes and drinking
vessels. Nurses should exercise the
same precautions as regards cleanli-
ness of hands in caring for infantile
paralysis patients as for those afflict-
ed 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 a consider
able period, usually from s'x to eight |
weeks, and the above preca utions |
should be adhered to during this time |
Distinction of the room following re- |
covery is advisable.
Wisconsin Inventors.