Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1941-09-19
The Polio Situation

When the Cooperator published story last week in
which Dr. Joseph Sagy, town health officer stated that
not single case of nfante paralysis (poiomyels) had
been reported in Greenbe acted in good faith beev-
ing that he was the adequate authority such informa-
uon we now have lndsputabe evidence that at the time
this statement submitted to the Cooperato suspected
case of polio had already been reported to Dr. Siagy.
A flyer, distributed the day before the Cooperator
apparently just in the editor learned the truth time
to Kill the story made similar denals of the reporting
of polio This too, crcuarized after the
first suspected case was reported to DR.. Silagy.
We dislike further embarrassment to the family of the
patient for they have already been to too much
torture through fault of their However rumors
spread throughout the town make to state the
brief facts.
In treating the Wondrum boy DR.. Clesson Richardson
suspected that the alment might be poliomyes re-
ports that he asked the health officer to check up on
the case DR.. Siagy decided that the ament was not
polio and refused to issue quarantine In view of this
difference of opinion Dr. Scando medical director of
Group HEALTH consulted by the patients parents Con-
sderng the symptoms DR. Scandio asserted that it ap-
peared to be of polio the dissatisfaction which
ensued following the disagreement diagnosis Dr. Byers
health officer for Prince Georges County, was called Dr.
Mary Richardson consulted and finally DR. Hodes of
the State Board of Health brought here from Baltimore
to render an opinion
DR.. Byers told the Cooperator that the Wondrum
youngsters illness Every likely was polio" Dr. Richardson
insists that this was "an aborve of polio DIR.
Hodes rendered written report after his examination and
definitely stated that the boy had suffered an attack of
polio The boy has special splints on his leg as
therapeutic for the results of the illness Dr.
Silagy town health officer issued his statement to the
Cooperator and by flyer that of polio had been
reported
Dr. Richardson and DR. Byers have told the Cooperator
that to their knowledge the only other of polio in
Greenbet the Bowman child who is now in Chdren's
Hospital in Washington.
Now Dr. Slagy says that of Wednesday night there
two of polio in Greenbelt, that zone is in
Washington hospital and the other inactive case
and out of quarantine He would not further identify the
for the Cooperator This it u.s. practically
constitutes admission that the Wondrum boy did
polio and should have been quarantned when reported
by DR.. Richardson.
We do not mean to bubble over the severity of the
first polio here Admittedly it was light case and
for that thankful It is contention that any
slight of poo any of suspected polio should
be quarantined We have light contempt for the
of this disease though by
Silagy that There for ALARM the peak the
epidemic has long since been and expect future
in Greenbelt."
George A. Soper, medical consultant for all u. S.
Housing Authorities projects has just issued on
precautions against polio in which he advises that attacks
often very mild and unusual and that children having
unaccountabe fever should be isolated Dr. Byers tells
that he has insisted prompt quarantine in
various parts of the County Weinsst that own local
health officer maintain equal vgence for the protection of
children.