The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-29
PARALYSIS PATIENT
NOW IN 5000 HANDS
Health Offcer Levy Says Little Myrs
Montgomery May Recover.
NO REASON FOR APPREHENSION
Precautions Taken Against Spread of
Disease such As Make IL Practically
Certain Not TO Cause Further
Trouble.

Chief Health Oficer Levy stated last
night that little Myra Montgomery y
condition was satisfactory. and that
chances for recovery were not gone.
The child and her mother and
nurse are Isolated In the Emergency
Hospital at the City Home, where ev-
erything possible Is being done.
The Thirty second Street home is
under strict quarantine. inspectors
from the Health Department, and a
nurse from that department are keep
ing in touch with the residents of the
house. and the children of the neigh
borhood are being kept under strict
surveillance.
Every precautionary measure is be-
ing taken, said DR.. Levy last night.
Such cases may not be susceptible OF
discovery or development within ten
DAYS although they may develop In
much shorter time.
DIR. Levy Issues Statement.
DR.. Levy yesterday gave out the
following statement as to the infantile
paralysis situation:
There seems to be a great deal OF
misunderstanding In connection with
the means whereby infantile paralysis
is spread and especially in connection
with the various measures which are
advised as precautions against TINS
disease.
Infantile paralysis apparently has
two distinct types, the contagious and
the non contagious. In every com
munity of any size not year passes
but what there are few cases or
type.
The form Of infantle paralysis
which we dread Is, Of course, the con-
tagtous type the type which is caus-
ing the present epidemic in New
York city. and a smaller number OF
cases In other places.
Our first danger is that children al
ready infected in New York city or
other places where the contagious
type exists may get 10 Richmond be-
fore showing any symptoms OF the
Illness and develop the disease after
arriving here If we could safeguard
ourselves absolutely against this, we
would have nothing TO fear, but there
is no way by which this can be pre-
vented
The case which was reported 10 the
Health Department yesterday left
Philadelphia feeling perfectly well,
and when the first symptoms Of the
disease appeared, on Wednesday
morning. the child had oeen mere ohs
day and a half
This entire house has been quar-
antined. and the child and It's mother
removed to the contagious disease
pavilion in the rear Of the City Home.
Unfortunately, the means by which
infantile paralysis Is spread are not
thoroughly understood, and, as ! have
statsd IN a number OF talks before
nurses. physicians, etc, since the
epidemic appeared in New York city.
we can only try 70 do everything
which may possibly be Of Importance.
Preventive Measures.
We have urged a ciearing-up. be-
llevinE that this will have some little
influence. but we we'll know that If
the entire city were spotless in every
respect this would not OF Itself pro-
tect us against this disease. II such
a cleaning-up would furnish complete
prot ection. no price within reason
would he too great TO secure this re-
suit. There seems to be a great deal
Of nisconception on this single point.
and there also seems to I've great
misconception as to the function OF
the Health Department The people
ap1,arvrtiy do art understand that
tho Health Department Mas neither
hands nor carts. nor, in fact, any OF
the means OF doing the actual clean
ing-up work
For this reason citizens have been
urged to look out for their own
premises. and the help 81 other city
departments has been asked and
freely given In this connection.
Everything which will lessen the
prevalence Of flies and other INSECTS
is believed to have some importance,
though Just how much no one can
say.
Mothers are especially urged not
70 allow their young children to he
brought in close contact with any
other children. They should be es-
peciallv careful not 10 allow their
children to visit homes In which there
ia illness OF any kind.
As the one case OF infantile
paralysis of the contagious type which
we know of in Richmond was prompt
" recognized and quarantined. we
have great hope that there Will be
no cases developing from exposure &c
this case.
II Is impracticable 10 keep out al
the city all children who may have
come from cities IN which there is IN
fantue paralysis. Even had We this
power. to do SO. II would have beer
inhunIan to have prohibited this
mother and her two children from
leaving the train on which they ar
rived at midnight.
Our people have no need for alarm
but all should follow such precautions
as we know Of Unfortunately, these
precautions are not of the clean-cu'
kind which we are able II Law dowr
in connection with those disease.
whose method of spread Is better
known