The sun., 1917-07-15
INFANT
PARALYSIS GONE.
No Danger of Epidemic, Says
Health BOard-LOw Death
Rate Sets Record.

According to figures Just made public
by Health Commissioner Emerson New
Workers are apparently safe from polio
myelitis this year. Moreover. according
to the Commissioner, New York last
week enjoyed the lowest death rate ever
observed in the history OF the city.
Whereas last year at this time 1900 true
cases Of poliomyelitis had been reported
to the Department OF Health since the
first of January. 1916. only seventy
seven cases have been reported this year.
Commissioner Emerson called atten-
tion to the fact that physicians were
evidently much more on the lookout for
cases Of this disease than they formerly
were. In compliance with the depart
ments request they are reporting all
cases which are even remotely suspected
to be poliomyelitis, procedure which
makes 1t extremely unlikely that any
considerable. number OF cases escape de-
lection and supervision by the health au-
thorities.
Every case reported to the Depart
ment OF Health is at once visited by a
diagnostician, who IL the case is true
poliomyelitis either orders the removal
makes sure that the child Is effectively
isolated in the home. In 1916. according
to Commissioner Emerson, 1t was seldom
case of poliomyelitis was sent TO the
hospital or brought under effective home
isolation earlier than two days after the
report of the case. At the present time
an average OF two and one-half hours
elapses between the time of reporting and
effective home isolation. Where the pa
tient is removed to a hospital an aver
age of three hours additional il con-
sumed, but even in these cases the total
time between reporting and hospital ad-
mission is only a small fraction OF what
1t was last year.
All Cases Isolated.
Less than one-third of the cases re-
ported to the department this year as
possibly pollomyeltis were true cases OF
the disease. The rest consisted OF chill
dren Ill with conditions whose symptoms
somewhat resembied poliomyelitis. OF
these the largest proportion were cases
OF meningitis. Owing to the demon
strated value of hospital isolation in
controlling the spread of poliomyelitls
the Department of Health Is insisting on
the hospital care OF all cases excepting
where practically perfect isolation can
be provided for the patient at home. OF
the cases occurring this year so per
cent have been removed to Health De-
partment hospitals. Last year only so
per cent. of the cases were treated in
hospitals.
According to figures prepared by the
Health Departments bureau of records
the death rate recorded last week was
the lowest general death rate ever re-
corded in the history OF the city, namely,
1896 deaths per thousand OF popula-
tion. Equally encouraging, especially for
the mothers of little children, is the fact
that the death rate among babies under
one year Of age was S5 deaths per thou
sand births from the period since jan
| uary 1 TO date, During the correspond
ing period OF last year the rate was SO.
Ten years ago the death rate among
babies was twice as great
A number of writers have called at
tention to the fact that an increased
prevalence Of poliomyelitis is frequently
| associated with or followed by an In
crease in the prevalence of epidemic
cerebro-spinal meningitis Figures pre-
pared by the Department of Health show
that the amount OF cerebro-spinal menin-
gifts occurring In this city at the present
| time is about normal.