The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-19
PROTECT AGAINST INFANTILE
PARALYSIS.

o protect JdCKSOnVlllc ITOIH the SCOUT
Of infantile paralysis, the State Board {
Health has taken measures that should b
applied in Pensacola, as, indeed, everywher
in Florida. Those measures are describe
as follows in press letter from DR.. JOSEF
Y. Porter, state health officer:
1.-THE Jacksonville board of health
has combined with the State board to
inspect every train entering the city
with passengers from points north of
Georgia Ali ships entering the port
are stopped at the Mayport quarantine
and the quarantine officer makes a
careful examination, submitting his re-
port, so that when the vessel reaches
the terminal at Jacksonville, the health
authorities are forewarned and pre-
pared to act.
This inspection of trains and yes
sells, however, is confined to the exam
nation of children under six years of
age. On arrival of trains from the
north, passengers who have young
children in their charge, are required to
remain in their places until the appear
ance of a physician and professional
~
A brief but searching examination is
made; the temperature of all young
children are taken and their general
physical condition is noted, and within
few moments the party is released,
if no suspicious cases are discovered.
In case a child is found with a tenn
perature above normal, the name and
address in Jacksonville are taken, and
the case is kept under observation for
further developments. IF the destina-
ton is beyond Jacksonville in any part
of the state or in Cuba, the name, time
Of probable arrival at destination and
other conditions are noted and wired to
the representative of the health board
a. such destination, with instructions
to keep the case under observation.
"Inasmuch as through travel parties
with young children from the north to
Florida and southern points is compar-
atively light during the summer
months, the delay for examination is
usually short, but in no respect is the
vigilance of the physicians and nurses
relaxed.
Should poitive case of infantile
paralysis be discovered by this inspec,
ton, it would be promptly isolated
and every precaution would be taker
to prevent the spread of the infection
This measure, though it might worl
a hardship in individual cases, would
still be justified as a protective act fol
the safety of the entire state"
The fact that infantile paralysis is
yet thoroughly understood by the medi
profession, is what makes its menace
great. The epidemic in New York
alarmed the country, and its spread is
evitable, unless proper preventive measu
are taken. The disease appears to be slt
compared with other infections, in its
velopment, and the patient may travel
before it can be diagnosed Families fly
from the scourge, therefore, will most
doubleday spread infection broadcast,
less incipient cases are discovered
isolated, as by thh Jacksonville plan.
Why does not the state board of hes
take similar measures with Pensacc
That our local health and other authori
would cooperate with the board, is,
course, obvious. Our people are arou
to the danger of infantile paralysis.
they, too, will lend every assistance in Il
power. Humanity demands that ev
precaution be taken against the mysteri
disease.
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