Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-05
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
prevalence o, 1hfnnttIe Paralysis.

In the first two weeks of October. 1921
sporadic cases OF acute poliomyelitis dnfan-
tile paraysis) occurred in moro than twenty
five States. according to reports Of the health
officers. The disease seems to be almost en-
donnie. that is. constantly present in widely
scattered places. like small pox and diph-
iberia We assume II is communicable dis
case. though tho virus or germ responsible
has not been positively identified. and from
clinical observation and certain animal ex-
periments we feel fairly we'll convinced that
tho virus Is transmitted In discharges from
tho nos. and throat and gains entrance to the
body through the lining of the nose or throat
In short, we have sufficient reason to place
infantile paralysis in tho already long list nj
respiratory infections. and In my per-
sonal judgement, though I have export
knowledge OF tho disease, the explanation for
the endemic occurrence OF infantilc paralysis
throughout the country in any and all :
sons. among every grade and strata OF the
population. is not the fancied carrier" ac-
tivitics OF flies other insects hut direct
spray infection from persons coming down
with the disease. or from those who have re-
Gently been In intimate contact with patients
in tho acute stage OF the disease. There is no
reason to imagine that nfantlc paralysis is
communicable In any way after the acute or
fcvcrish stage has passed. and only the weak
cncd muscle groups show where the lightning
has cruelty struck.
We have bad habit OF exaggcratinE things
in n weak, emotional way In this country
Every disease that occurs in epidemic waves
is referred to rs 'thc dread disease" Nothing
dreadful about most diseases, though to he
sure a parent feels differently when child
is stricken But this accurscd disease. this
cruci monster which strikes down dearly
beloved child and leaves the little victim 90
pitiably manned, sometimes forever is indeed
a dread disease and fully warrants the coup-
ling Of the word inscrutabe with the word
providence.
The disease was first recognized in 1910 nv
IIcinc. of Cannstadt. and called by him in
fantlc spinal paralysis. In 1908 monkeys were
successfully inoculated with the disease by
and others in this country found that the virus
was f>trahle through unGlazed porcelain nit
crs and still virulcnt for monkeys (othcr ami
mails seem iinmunc). Roscnau found that the
virus was transmitted from one monkey Il
another by the bite of the stable n.y. In an
animal or human being with tho disease tho
virus seems to be concentrated in the spinal
cord. particularly the gray matter projcc.
tons toward the front--the anterior horns
wherefore the name anterior poIomyeIjtis
meaning inflammation OF the anterior horn.
or gray matter. But the virus is present else
where than In tho spinal cord. II Is present
also In lymph nodes or glands of the intes.
tines. sometimes In the meningeal coverings
of the brain AMI in the cerebrum itself, and
often I'm the tonss. Probably persons with
diseased tonsils are more likely to become
carriers OF tn" virus of infantile paralysis
than persons with healthy throats, when ir
contact with one Ill OF the disease or COMING
down with 1t.