The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-08-16
Timely Health Article
by DR.. Hamilton
Weston Democrat

but practically on account OF the
terrible epidemic of infantile par
alysis in New York last year,
ana the outbreak OF the same
disease at Fairmont and + kins,
cur own state, in December and
January, and to lessen the dam
Her If another epidemic of the
dread plague. in any part of the
state, Governor Cornweil, earlier
in the season, issued proclama-
lIon appointing a certain week in
Aptil as Clean up week. urg-
J Y upon all the extreme neces-
sity of c.eaning up their premises
and keeping them clean. The
mayors OF this and other cities
and towns throug out the state
followed with like proclamations
enjoining their people to fully
and faithfully carry out the in
structions of the Governor. The
county and municipal health Off
GERS have publicly and privately
..rged that this precautionary
measure of cleanliness be rightly
observed. TO their credit. be it
said. that most of our people
responded periodically to the call
but in some instances it has been
necessary to force obedience by
fines through the mayors office.
Few persons realize the diff
culties of the work of the health
.Hcers when not supported by
the cheerful and honest cooper
Gtion of The people. The officers
ire not trained detectives and
an dangerous and desperate
conditions of faith can he cover
ed Up and hidden from view by
those who are dishonest and dis
loyal to the welfare of the COM
mu nifty. For instance, when in
speeding a condition. on complaint
some time since, the city health
officers found barrel of conta.
lo,e rinds with generous
sprinkling of dead rats hidden
Leneati. some other rubbish at
the rear on the lot, and the
whole putrid mass was literally
alive with the larvae of the dead.
Iy green fly. We created no
stir; it was neither advisable Tor
necessary. The contents of that
barrel would have been eminent
ly satisfactory to KaiSer William,
Won Hindenberg and Won "Trip
itz could its potsntialities of
of death and destruction have
been directed against the allies.
Fortunately it was discovered
and dispose of before tide peril
was ready to disseminate itself
by taking wing.
The great peril will be better
understood when it is stated
that DIR. +. w. Saunders, of st
Louis, in his instructions to the
board of health Of that city. has
attributed the transmission of
MANTLE paralysis to the swallow.
ing of the eggs of the green fly.
National and state experts have
up until this time arrived at no
very satisfactory explanation of
the mode Of tranmission but have
found out many valuable things
about the diagnosis. tieatmen
and after treatment eff the dis
ease. DIR. Saunders theory
seems to be the best advanced
yet and throws light upon many
things that We're in darkness be-
fore. Tbe green fly is hiberna-
ting and could emerge from it's
quarters in warm houses during
the winter and continue it's dead
~ work. This might account
for the winter epidemics such
as we had at Fairmont and
Elkins last year. At all events
the the theory is sufficiently
plausible for all ofus to wage
unrelenting warfare against all
flies snd'etpecislly tie green fly.
According to DR.. Saunders.
the fly becomes infected by feed
log upon the carcasses Of timber
neck fowls, rats or other animals
or from the excretions Of human
beings suffering from the disease
OF course. other flies may carry
the poison although the danger
is incomparGbly less than that