Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-16
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
low Iarantlic rnrnly.l. l,egin..

Dr Lcwellys T. Barker, Johns Hopkins pro-
lessor, IS more or less. let hope less.
.sponsible for this assertion in his Mono.
graphic Medicine, which work bears the Same
relation to the doctors bible (Osler'; Prac-
t!cc) as Dana's TWO Years Before the Mast
does TO Whatsisnare's Tour OF the World in
Eighty Days:
when the disease tinfantile paraly,
sis) IL prevalent each child should have
his own handkerchief and should never usc
the handkerchief of another child. or that OF
Il parent"
Which leaves for debate what is TO lie done
about handkorchiefs when the disease is not
prevalent. Off-hand | should urge that this
excellent advice OF Or. Barkcr's he followed
even when there Is no epidemic on. However
/ 10 not intend to counsel extravaganza or
vulgar display.
From the moment of Infection until the pa
,icnt experiences the first symptom or pre-
scnts the first sign OF illness, the Incubation
period, is anywhere from one day to two
weeks. tho average being about ten days.
The child then sckens very much as though
coming down with tonsilitis coryza ESQ
called cold" or 'SrippcD. The fever is about
the same as that occurring with tonsilits or
coryza in children. Often there is no more
mental dullness vomiting and irritahiiity
than may he commonly seen with tonsiltis
but general hypcrscnsitvencss OF the skin
and perhaps some riGdity of the neck are
closely resembles rheumatism" muscular
rheumatism" "ncurits" and Influenza" Pro-
fuse sweating is frequent The child is drowsy
or somnolcnt daytmcs and restless nights.
After few days he complaints of pains. par
ticularly in limb. Even at this stage
the physician may note impaired or lost
reflex nerve action in the limb which Is about
to become paralyzcd. The paralysis manifests
itself ia from ono to seven days after the
beginning of the illness.
About onc-half of all eases OF acute anterior
poliomyelitis are nbortive incomplete forms
of the disease; that Is definite paralysis
remains, or only transient weakness. or g.
scarcely noticeable permanent weakness OF
some group OF muscles We know this only
from scrodlagnostic tests. From such abor-
tive or transient cases to the cruel6st extensive
paralysis. there are all transitions Tho
severity probably depends the size ana
and the patients natural inherited resist
ancc. An attack OF infantile paralysis
confers lasting immunity against second
attack, and that immunity is probably passed
down children. The TRANSMISSION OF blood
or the injection Of blood serum from Il patient
recently recovered from poliomyeltis is one
recognized aid in treating an attack.
/ have tried To give description of the
average There many variations Of
the picture. depending the portion of the
nervous system which happens to be most in
jured by the virus.
Is n mouth-wash or any antseptic solution
OF any value in preventing this disease? I
do not think so. Eut some physicians sug-
Scst the frequent rnSing OF the mouth and
throat with :. weak hydrogen peroxide solu-
tion--teaspo"nful in half-cupful of water or,
OF boric acid in water. when the disease is
epidemic in the community