Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-23

effect. When the contractile force is
not sufficient to move the limb the In.
structor aids in the desired motion, at the
same time compelling the patient to make
all mental effort towards its attainment.
AS the muscle becomes stronger the
needed assistance is lessened The muscle
is allowed to talce up more OF tho work,
run the whole Of the exercise and receives
the maximum amount OF work possible In
it's weakened condition The exercise
must always stop short OF the fatigue
point, for fatigue will produce neuras.
thenia.
The muscles most frequently involved
in lnfantile paralysis arc those of the
hlps. Placing the child on a chair in a
comfortable position before the mirror.
the instructor brings the foot up to a
right angle with the leg; he then urges
the child to aid in bringing up the small
toes at tho side OF the foot through an
arc or about thirty degrees If the child
cannot do this alone. the instructor
places one hand on The knee TO keen the
leg III position and the other under the
root; this greatly aids the chld's effort
to make the desired contraction.
This is repeated several times. but
never to the fatigue point. Each set of
muscles IS contracted in a similar man
about the mental effort must still be
made and will he helpful in the end.
forty-three patients have been enabled
10 walk by this method who have been
incapable OF doing so during period
OF from nine months to four years
In many cases the doctors have to
nandle paralyZed muscles on one side of
the spine and unopposed ovcrcontracted
healthy muscles on the opposite side
Securing permanent result is dcpend
ent on the success in ouualiZine tho
muscle force.
The alarming increase in the resnjra
ton rate during the acute stage Of in.
fantilc paralysis shows that practically
every case suffers from some involve
ment or the respiration centre. The fatal
cases are usually terminated by Daralvsis
OF the respiratory tract Every case If.
fecting the upper part OF the BODY IRE
sents some atrophy Of the muscles or
the ribs. The majority of these paraIvtic
children, whether left with iniuries of
the upper or lower extremities show :,
very poor chest expansion, which looks
like an inheritance from a iuberculous
ancestor. but is simply a result of the
disease.
TO overcome this serious defeat as
well as to provide oXygenation for ali
the body tissues. breathing exercises arc
made constant accompaniment of tho
treatment. The best results come from
treatment instituted az early as possible
as the original paralysis tends 10 he.
come worse if neglected The doctors
have, however, obtained complete resto.
ration OF function as late as eight months
after the acute stage in cases referred
to as hopeless and marked by complete
loss Of function.
Mechanical apparatus has been do
vised for the use OF the paralvtjc with
muscles atrophied from the waist down
to help him to walk. In numerous cases
of paralysis IL has been found that tho
iliopsoas muscle. which raises the thigh
is wholly unaffected. though connected
muscles have been paralyzcd and NAV
DC utilized in walking, when the haccid
llmps are Stinened and supported by ap-
paratus. The doctors state that any tvna
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