The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-11
New Method Of Treating
EJdntile Paralysis Set
. Forth In Medical Record

Chicago, Dec. ia new methoC
OF treating infantile paralysis bS
causing a rush OF blood to the in
jured cells Of the spinal cord, pub
lished in The Medical Record Of
November IL, tells a story OF q series
Of experiments which led to success
full results in handling paralyzed
patients. The treatment is a furth-
or application OF hyperemia. a long
practiced method OF rushing the
blood to some injured portion OF the
body, thus stimulating recovery.
The article says any physician may
apply the simple treatment which
makes the bloods rush to the affected
cells OF the spinal cord, a hitherto in
accessible part of the anatomy,
whenever there are any living cells
left in the spinal cord recovery is
merely matter Of time. In the case
where the disease has killed all the
nerve cells which control the lower
limbs and other parts Of the body
no hope Is extended to patients at
present.
Seven years experience with the
treatment demonstrated it's efficiency
In 30 per cent of the cases treated.
Recovery required from a week to
six months, depending on the sever
tty Of the disease.
The first series OF treatments were
accomplished without anything save
the physicians hands and consisted
of suspending a child patient be-
tween the hands of the physician
and producing a number Of rhythmic
swingings calculated. to stretch the
spinal column and to flood the lum-
bar or cervical enlargement. +.
This FrNfRa6lYPn NOE secs.
found to present certain difficultiess
especially in larger children. In
adults the weight Of the patient
would make the treatment physically
impossible.
Swing Appliances.
To obviate the possibility OF error
with reference to placing the lever
age at the right place as we'll as to
enable the physician to practice the
swingings in a most convenient man
ner a simple swing like appliance
was devised to pass under the
patients arms and across the back.
When suspended therein for a
or two the patient undergoes
extension and relaxation of the spine
without any effort on the part Of the
The treatment proper is carried
out as follows:
The patient is placed in the appli-
ance Of a size chosen for the special
case. For the first two minutes the
patient is allowed to remain sus-
pended undisturbed for the purpose
OF obtaining relaxation Of the spinal
The patient then is swung forward
and backward with jerk, somewhat
in the manner used to bring down
the mercury in a fever thermometer.
II this movement is properly execut-
ed the lower extremities will swing
back in an opposite direction at the
each maneuver has been
completed. This procedure is ex-
ecuted fifteen to twenty-five times,
depending on the tolerance OF the
patient.
Treatments may be given every
day or even oftener, all depending on
the reaction.
The astonishing results that have
followed this simple treatment, ac-
cording to The Medical Record, can
be explained only by the fact that
a hyperemia is produced in the az
fected portion Of the cord. Several
have had ample op-
portunity to follow UP a number Of
cases and 1t is said there is no doubt
as to the permanency OF the results.