Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-01
BY Dr. John b. Huber. \. M. MD

HE thousands of crippled children left by last years
l epidemic Of niantle paralysis have forced medical
science 10 put forth lis efforts in finding
remedy for the cruel effects oil the disease
lor Robert W. IoNctt, Of the Harvard nfante Paraly
SIS omiSsion states III article in the Journal the
american Medical Association. that there $1,000
cases ~ the United States last year Out of o.7l5 chill
Dire" who survived the disease in New York alone S4 per
cent remained seriously paravzed Probably $4,000 chill
dr'n were left crippled in the whole country.
There Is possibility OF curing the after paralysis if
the best scientific methods promptly employed They
must be used under the direction OF skilled pert with
ont delay: Fatigue Of the injured limbs the
use by mistaken parents Of exercises prescribed by med
cal specialists may make impossible.
The Parayzed child usually has many unaffected mus
ceS and if he is allowed exert these excessively the
weak ones will be injured beyond repair.
The newest methods aye being used with marked sue
cess IN hospitals making speciality of such The
from brain and o tho crippled limbs
This is actually accomplished and the nerve paths
which arc called INTO existence enable the child
MS para!yzed limb once more. In attaining this remark
able result the child mental effort and will
ate new nerve cells arc OF great value
Dr, Simon FlcXncr, of the Rockefeller Institute in
New lork has discovered the essential the specific cause
Of mfane para ysis 10 be germ virus, infinitely
minute to be dcovcrhe only by the highest powers
OF the microscope by the uramicroscope. Formerly it
was considered that falls previous weakening diseases
another substandard conditions of the body
were responsible for the development Of this disease But
snch only predisposne making the body ss
ccpibe the inroads of the essential virus maxine the
body congcnla soil Tor the growth and the multiplication
OF the specific germ. This latter enters the system by
way OF the nose and throat travelling from those parts
bones which the base The
brain through the menngcs Chose membranes covering
The brain and spinal cord and the roots Of
that cord, III which have seen. muscular move
mcnts for the most art. directed controlled and
co-orlinated
Now. much IS done by doctor nurse and surviving pa
cnt, all working together 10 restore their office
limbs that have been drcadfully affected by the in
anc paralysis virus. BY intelligent and combined use
OF electricity ard appropriate exercises many
such limbs sufficiently re-educatcd for the perform
ancc of the movements 10 which they accustomed
before they became stricken. How such means how
is such rccducation possible Of TO understand
how this IS possible have to consider the nature Of
the
The basis of the system is the ncuron the
essential parts OF which the cell body its axis evil
indcr or nerve fibre and its dcndrites The cell BODY
with IFS unacconnabe fellows make up the gray matter
whilst the fbrcs make up the white of the brain
nd spinal cord IT is the business OF the fibre to
r"t he cell body with the muscles and the other
OF the body needing Innovation
nc''rons arc scnsory and motor; and infante
is a disease affecting the latter, the motor fbrcs
"rcs arc the wires the cell bodies. grouped as they
in sangla the ccntrals from which messages are