Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-11
REPORTED THIRTY CASES OF
PARALYSIS.
STATE Board of Health Issues Warming
on Danger of Spread of Dreaded
PoliomyclitiS.

Richmond. Va, Aug. 3. 19l7.-Thirty
cases or infantilc paralysis were re-
ported TO the STATE Board cf lIcal.a
from seven counties and one city
daring the month of July.
Three cases have been rcpor. cd
from the city Of Richmond, approXi-
matcly % cases from Rockingham
county. from Page. . from King
and Queen, 2 frCm Pitsylvania and
one each from Goochland and Rich
mend counties. The health authori-
ties Of Rappanhannock county have re-
ported number Of cases" but as
they have not been specific. exact in.
formation will not be available until
the state officer dispatched there has
filed his report.
Acting on the basis Of this informal
ton, the state board Of health today
issued bulletin OF warning and call.
cd upon physicians TO report immcd-
lately. as required by law, all cases
of infantilc paralysis.
A.~iolute frankncss regarding the
present situation" said Health Com
missioner Williams today. "is ncccs.
sary to keep the people advised, to af-
lord basis for proper action and to
prevent the spread of unfounded ru-
ii'"i -. ny SiIlahS owe III 10 inc DlD
lie as well rs to the law to report i'm
mcdiately all cases that occur in their
practice and Immediately establish
quarantine. Evasion of the law, in
cases OF this sort, is criminal and
will be punished promtly and efiec.
lively.
Some Of the eases that have been
reported are probably of the sporadic
type and need not cause serious an
prchcnSons. Other cases aDparontly
are OF the epidemic type and may be
responsible for the future spread of
the disease. All eases must be treat
Ell as though they were Of the great.
est danger. for only in this way can
proper precautions be taken
me situation has not vet assumed
proportions that make ii necessary TO
give pnDilc warning against travel in
all parts or the state. but it is serious
chouSh 10 justify us in saving that
children should not enter or leave
h"cklngham county. 1t NAV he noccs
sary to add Page and Rappahannoclx
TO TINS list. If so, public notice will
he given.
, me board is taking stems to con-
me me disease if possible, TO tho
present area of infection and is wc-,,
NbLiI ..S.it!. pryjt,. IF u
nco''e& necessary, we shall as, tbo
Soon!'ieht TO detail us additional of.
ncers TO assist the state forcn =,
"h'os'S ana quarantine For tho
psostnt' the most important measures
p,.'chtlon are, first, the isolation
OH cases ana, secondly, the SAM.
'a'l"il OF our towns cities and rnr,,
''., 'o'S. 10 this end, the board hos
a;, '.ei an urgent appeal 10 the conn.
'o anu noards OF supervisors and viii
tbiuls exercise all the powers at tic
command at us
me pest advice we can rivo to
parehls In the infected districts ;s -
hcep small children from contact Will,
other children, and, as far as nocsih1o
lioni contact with all persons m.
more carefully this is done. where W.
ouilouhdlngs are sanitary, tho looo
chahee there is that the child will ho
GENE infected. wiz oe'
While these precautions m,ct ,o
tuken, 1t is only fair to saw that ,or
pitc the number of cases rnnor,oa
ulins July the total number tbus for
,of 'he year is only sixty.eigbt ,rh;a
:" less than the number renortad -
1he corresponding date in 1915 We
ousht, therefore, to be extremely v,at
lah, out should not become n.nin'
stricken or be deceived bv false r,,-
nlorS. II physicians will obov tho Low,
ana report Immediately all casne tha,
occur IN their practice the hoard viii
give lull publicity, without emhor
RAISING individuals, and will keen no
people or Virginia fully advised os to
every development" 90 ~