The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1925-09-09
Heal y Ss;sS,i1IeIy Con-
Urges Caution to
Prevent Disease
INFANTILE PARALYSIS EPIDE-
MIC FEARED BY STATE WORK
ERS CARE URGED UPON ALE
RESIDENTS OF STATE.

Redwood County has two reported
cases of infantile paralysis, and the
adjoining county of Renville has at
least one. While this is not at all an
alarming number, it brings directly
to the residents of the County the re-
lization that this locality may share
in the so-called epidemic" if care
is not taken. Relative to this dis
ease and it's prevention the current
number of the Northwest Health
Journal, published by the Minnesota
Public Health Association, contains
the following article.
Infantile paralysis seems to have
become an epidemic i'm Mnnesota
during the past three months and is
causing considerable concern to the
state board of health as well as to
physicians throughout the state.
When it is considered that the state
board of health records show that 10
cases were reported in the state in
June; lot in July and 80 the first
ten days in August, it is best to con-
slider the utmost care in the pre-
vention of a spread of the disease.
Thus far only two deaths have been
reported. Most of the cases invest
igated by state psychologists show
q history of exposure to known
case or to some person who had a
transient acute illness without paral-
ysis.
Because the cases thus far have
been contact cases it is important
that State Board of Health regula-
tions for poliomyelitis be carefully
observed to check the epidemic.
These provide that whenever polio
myelitis prevails in locality the To-
cal board of health shall cause q
search for, and careful examination
of all i'll children. All children with
fever must be isolated pending the
diagnosis.
: The most effective agency in. the
control of poliomyelitis is employ
ment of public health nurses who, in
cooperation with the physician, will
teach sickroom precautions, the nee
essity for rest in bed and the need of
proper support for the affected parts.
paralysis or epidemic meningitis, OBJ
serve the following:
Keep your children off the streets.
Do not let them play with any child
not entirely well.
Keep them as quite as possible and
be sure they get full amount of
rest and sleep.
Keep your house properly screen
ed and swat every fly that gets in-
side.
Keep sick persons who do not be-
long in your house out of your house.
Be careful as to what goes into
the mouth. Wash children's hands
frequently. Cultivate the habit of
keeping fingers and things not to be
eaten out of the mouth.
Be careful as to food. Be sure
that hands are washed throughlU
just before eating.
Avoid eating uncooked foods and
vegetables that have been handled
by unknown persons or that have
been exposed to street dust or to
flies. Be sure that all fruit con-
sumed is ripe and not over-ripe or
decayed.
Use individual drinking cups and
do not use your cup for dipper or
dipper for cup.
If one of the children or an adult
in your family appears sick or COM
plains of not feeling well, separate
that person from the rest of the fam
lily and CALL A DOCTOR AT ONCE.
Do not allow any visitors to enter the
home.
After waiting upon the sick per-
son be sure to wash your hands i'm
mediately and again before eating
or preparing food for others.
Collect nose and throat dischar-
ges in paper napkins or in small
pieces of old cloth and burn imme-
diately.
Children in the house, and per-
sons associated with the patient,
should be kept under observation for
two weeks after the exposure and
during this period must not attend
church or Sunday school, or any pub
lie or private gathering whatever.
Do not overlook danger from con-
valescents and carriers"
Dogs, cats, and other household
pets must be kept out of the house.
Obey directions Of your doctor and
vour health officer