New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-11
Your Health
How to Keep It.
Causes of Illness
Bv DR., HUGH 8. CUMMING
Surgeon General, United states
Public Health Service

l'uDllC llNhANll w. 49,
Infantile paralysis, like o'o"r
acute infections, is caused by
germ. A good deal Is known apon
this germ, but We arc not yet quiz"
sure Of its identity.
These germs actually XIII many
Of the large nrryc cells In the braln
and spinal cord. and, when these b's
nerve cells die, their function when
is 10 furnish the energy WHEN
moves certain parts of the BODY
stops, The body does not seem 10
have the power to create new cells
Of this kind.
If there are Il sufficient number
Of these cells left they may grail
ually overcome the paralysis.
How Is inrantiIe paralysis con-
tracted?
1t seems quite definitely proven
that the germs which cause TINS
disease enter the body through The
mucous membrane Of the nose. They
apparently spread through lympha-
tic glands alongside Of certain nerve
trunks. They always come from
some one who has the disease, who
is recovering from 1t, or who, with
or without having been sick, has
become carrier OF these germs.
At times the disease may be so
mild as to escape being recognized,
there being only very slight paroly-
sis or possibly none at all.
Persons suffering from infantlc
paralysis should remain in quaran.
tine for at least six weeks as pro-
lection TO others.
In the present state Of our knowl-
edge. it is not practicable to al
! tempt TO detect the chronic danger
Gus carriers as Is done in the case
Of diphtheria or typhoid fever.
The length Of time required for
the disease to develop after OK
posure has not been definitely deter
mined, but appears to be within I'VE
to ten days, Usually there are no
symptoms during this stage, though
lll'i y llltEN w 6lls ~ l'oCltl'l'
and sometimes a little sore throat.
The actual onset Of the disease
is usually sudden. There is fever.
there may be vomiting, and In chill
dren there may be commissions.
Paralysis, II present, occurs very
early IN the course OF the disease
and is greatest at that time
The most common form for the
paralysis 10 assume is that of in
Movement of ona leg. Next after
this is involvement OF one arm and
one log, usually the opposite leg. IN
the legs OF the muscles most COM
monty affected are those which ex-
tend the hip and knee ard those
which raise the foot. In the upper
extremity the shoulder muscles are
most often affected.
The mortality from infantile par
alysis VARIES IN different epidcmics
In New York in 1916, 81 per cent
Of those who were attacked died.
There Is a crumb Of comfort in
knowing that the initial paralysis is
the maXimum---that all subsequent
change is toward Improvement.
Who're Improvement occurs. this
may continrc for a year or a. year
and a half, CT longer. what is gained
being retained.
If, however there Is no Improve
ment whatever during the first three
months following the attack. then
none is likely to occur, but no case
should be considered hopeless until
all remedial measures have been
exhausted.
The treatment Of infantile par
alysis. though still unsatisfactory. is
important and should be rendered bv
skilled physician. There is no
medicine that will sure the disease,
though some medicines may be use
full In the acute stage.
Children under five are most sus.
ceptlble but the disease may Occur,
at any age. Keep your children At
nome when the disease is prevalent
Teach them how to avoid coptect
With others such as might give rise
to infection.
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