The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-10-24
INFANTILE MALADY
AND SMALLPOX STIR
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
ParaIyzing Disease Breaks Out
in Sargent-D ickey Area; Ap-
ply Law at Steele

Outbreaks of infantile paralysis and
smallpox are demanding the atten-
ton of the state health department.
the infantile epidemic being In Sar-
gent and Dickey counties and the
smallpox at Steele. A situation de-
manding enforcement of the vaccina-
ton and quarantine law has resulted
at Steele.
DIR. "A. A.. Whittemore, state health
officer, ahd DR.. r. W. KIen, head 81
Of the preventable disease bureau,
made a trip to Steele Thursday eve
ming to confer with the town health
board on the smallpox situation.
This conference was required to
deal with an instance Of hostility to
vaccination or quarantine which &C.
Cured in a family where members
had been exposed to the infection.
When four cases broke out in the
Steele high school all students were
required to show evidence that they
had had the disease or had been sue
cessfully vaccinated against It recent
ly. otherwise a quarantine was to be
enforced to cope with the contagion.
General Vaccination Halls 1t
General vaccination in families
which had not already been so treat
ed for immunity followed and the out
break was halted at four cases. The
question of how to deal with the one
family which resisted the health
board orders was submitted to James
Morris, attorney general. and he ruled
that the state health department and
the Steele board were within their
authority In demanding either vac
cination or submission to a quaran-
tine. A copy Of the attorney generals
ruling was submitted to the Steele
board and 1t will act accordingly.
The infantile paralysis outbreak in
Sargent and Dickey counties consists
Of four cases actually known and
others believed to exist without the
paralysis which definitely identifies
the disease. DR.. Allen said it is be-
heved that the source Of infection
is in Marshall county,. s. D., across
the state line from Dickey and Sar-
gent counties.
Infantile Disease May Spread
There has been widespread exposure
and the possibility of a greater de-
velopment of the disease Is regarded
as likely. So far there are two cases
in which there is complete paralysis
Of the lower extremities and left arm,
with a so per cent paralysis of the
right arm. One Is a mother, % years
Of age, and the other q two-year-old
child. In a third case there Is paraly-
sis of the right arm of a six-year-old
girl. A fourth case was found by DIR.
Allen on an investigation Of several
days In the affected area, this being
. girl child 81 months of age with q
Of paralysis Of the right shoul-
der and upper arm.
These cases all are in families with
other children and are 10 to 70 miles
apart. That Is why suspicion as the
injecting contact Is directed a. the
South Dakota county. where the dis
ease prevails In wider extent. it is
said. DR.. Allen said 1t Is difficult to
the extent of the Sargent
outbreak, as there may be
cases seemingly Of mere Gods or Of
influenza which In reality are unde-
veloped attacks Of infantils paraly-
sis.
Serum Being Applied
Polio myelitis streptococci serum
has been recommended at a medium
81 treating the outbreak. and during
Dr.. Aliens tour Of the two counties
he obtained some Of this and treat
ments were given, both for preven-
live purposes and for existing cases.
The disease Is not only still q mystery
10 the medical profession in many OF