Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
PARAL YS|S ALTERS
VACATION COURSES
Parents Warned to Avoid
Epidemic Areas With
Children.

Summer vacation plans Of several
Washington families contemplating
escape from the August heat at North-
ern beaches and mountain resorts
have been altered suddenly 1t was
learned yesterday, because of the cpl
demic proportions OF infantile paralysis
in New York City and the anticipated
spread Of this dreaded disease along
the New England and Western New
York traffic lanes.
The disease is fairly well concen-
trated in Brooklyn, but there are I'M
official reports of serious outbreak in
New Haven. 1t still is too early, it was
said, to make any predictions as to
what is likely to happen. 1t was pointed
out. however, that the course of the
epidemic thus far has been very SINH
lar, as shown by statistical curves, to
the great epidemic of 1916 This also
started in Brooklyn, spread through
New York and New England, and had
afflicted approximately 5000 persons
before it disappeared in November.
1t was pointed out. previous outbreaks
radiates from a nucleur, the number
of cases varying with the distance from
the center and the density of population
in a community. In cities it attacks
children almost exclusively, but in rural
districts the number of adult victims is
n
due, it was explained at the National
Institute of Health, to the fact that
very few persons more than Is years
old who have lived in the close contact
of a city environment have not had the
disease in q mild form and thus ac-
quired a degree Of immunity.
First and Fifth Years Worst.
At the time it may have shown no
symptoms at all or have passed off as
a light cold Only on rare occasions
does 1t seem TO assume the very viru-
lent form which has about 20 per
cent mortality rate and leaves the VIC
tins that It does not kin more or less
permanently crippled It's greatest toll
is taken between the first and fifth
years. Children more than Is are in
little danger.
Public Health ofiicials are loath to
make predictions. The only basis for
prediction is the intensively studied
1915 epidemic. which started month
earlier than the present outbreak. This
epidemic, according to the Public
Health Service study made at the time,
spread like a wave, THE crest passing
from within outward, requiring approx
imately 35 days to travel from the orig
inal focus to the outer zone OF the city
and diminishing in amplitude with its
l1a nY1fd ff
spread through New England and into
Canada. Southwark it spread into New
Jersey along the lines OF heavy New
York traffic
The spread southwark was less
marked than that to the North prob
ably because fewer persons are coming
South in the Summer and those fant-
lies which left New York after con-
tacting the disease naturally went
North to escape the heat: The means
of dispersion, 1t was explained at the
Hygienic laboratory seems to be by
personal contact, although so little is
known about 1t that this statement
cannot be made positive. But it spreads
most rapidly where there is the great
est opportunity for contact, and there
is a considerable body of evidence that
1t is not spread by contaminated water
or by insects.
Progress Difficult.
For years medical science has concen-
trated on the disease with compare
lively little progress 1t is known. how
ever, that the agent of the disease is
one of the filterable viruses showing
similar properties, in some respects. to
the viruses of measles and OF smallpox
but with an affinity for the motor parts
of the central nervous system. Unlike
the nervous system diseases with Wnlcn
it is often clasSed, meningitis and en-
cephalitis, 1t does not attack the mind
1t will pass through the smallest filter
and is very resistant to such conditions
as cold.
Considerable progress has been made
by treating the disease with GONZALES
cent serum, although the value OF TINS
has not yet been thoroughly demon
strated It is not administered as
preventive measure.
In this respect, IL was pointed out, the
blood of an urban adult seems TO pro
vide about as good a serum as that
of an actual convalescent, showing the
same reaction in the test tube. TINS
observation may be Of considerable !
value since the average convalescent Is
weak child who can III afford TO spare /
the necessary blood. while almost any |
quantity can be obtained from the |
population at large.
Railroads entering New York, accord |
ing to Public Health Service officials. |
are taking a commendable attitude |
Not only are medical officers keeping in |
daily touch with the service, but aprro- |
pirate orders have been issued fol the |
Immediate reporting of any sickness |
which develops on trains The Pull |
man Company 1t was said, is especially |
solicitous and has gone to great lengths
TO safeguard its coaches
Rises In Late Summer.
Thus far, the only focus known this /
year, is in Brooklyn. The 1916 epidemic |
had another entirely independent focus |
in the Northwest and spread through |
Wisconsin ard Minnesota although the |
situation was not so bad as in the |
Northeast. This year there appear to
be only sporadic cases in other parts
OF the country, which is no different |
from the ordinary incidence of the dis
ease which always shows rise in late
Summer.
In this respect also the disease differs
from the other contagious virus ois-
eases which are quiescent during the /
warm months when people remain in |
the open air and have their big out |
breaks when cold weather returns.
Contact appears to be the chief II /
not the only way Of contracting the dis
ease 1t is likely, however, that this
contact can come through a third per-
son. it was explained at the hygienic /
Thus an immune adult in |
contact with a child victim would not |
be stricken himself. but might pass the |
disease TO another child. When there /
is an outbreak, IL was said, Ii is best |
to keep children to themselves as much |
as possible,
The Public Health Service Is watch |