The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-12
THE INFANTILE PARALYSIS
CEARE

Somewhere or othere there is al
most always poliOmyelitis scare, I
infer from the inquiries coming in
from anxious parents.
We have good reason to believe,
though we do not yet know defin-
itely, that this disease is respira-
tory infection, that is, the germ or
virus of the disease is usually car
ried from one person to another in
the secretions from mouth, nose or
throat Of the patient or a healthy
carrier, just as diphtheria or meas
les or whooping cough is spread.
It may do no good, but it does no
harm anyhow, to use simple solu-
ton of heaping teaspoonful of boric
acid in the pint of boiled water as a
mouth wash or gargle or nasal spray
three or more times day, If there is
a local outbreak of infantile paralysis.
I don't know whether this will pre-
vent catching the disease, but do
know that such solution is as eff
cient as any known antiseptic prep
aration one can use for such pur-
pose.
The attack of poliomyelitis Gnfan-
tile paralysis begins very much like
ordinary acute sore throat, grippe,
coryza or other cri Common Respir-
atory Infection. After few days of
such mildly feverish illness the pa
tent complains of pain or tenderness
or heavinesS or weakness in some
particular muscle group, usually in
one limb, and the limb gradually be-
comes weak or paralyzed. though
generally only partly powerless, that
is, it is not entirely immovable.
The disease is infectious or COM
municable only during the feverish
stage, say the first week or ten days
Of the illness. After that, the pa
ralysis remains for weeks or months,
but the condition is no longer infec-
tious and the patient is not menace
to anybody. The paralysis or paresis
(weakening) of the affected muscle
group is merely the aftermath or re-
suit of the illness, and is not in any
sense an illness in itself.
Whether the victim fully RECEIVERS
the use of the affected muscles Or
only partly regains control or fails to
show any improvement, there is no
reason in the world why the general
physical and mental health should
not be quite as sound as though no
attack of infantile paralysis had oc-
CURED.
The great remedy in the stage of
invasion is rest. Most intelligent folk
now know that a day in bed is the
best first aid treatment for most acute
illnesses. Well, if the illness hap
pens to be acute poliomyelitis, then
the first day in bed is more potent for
preventing paralysis or for limiting it
to a mild or temporary paresis than
is any serum or other remedy as yes
discovered.
hope all parents who have ap-
pealed to me for advice about this
will heed the advice I give. Here it
is: At all times, even if there is no
immediate poliomyelitis scare, give
your child the benefit of the doubt
send him to bed and keep him there
for at least twenty-four hours when
ever he manifeStS any symptoms of
cri, or if you're mulish about it, then
"cold." You never can tell, neither
can doctor, and not even a nurse
doubling in the role of little tin doc
tor. what such an illness will turn out
to be.
If you are still in doubt whether the
child is i'll after he has remained in
bed for "a hours, then as a good par
ent you must Cd either keep him in
bed another "a hours or (2) call in
your physician at once.