The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-07-28

three-year period, los Of the pa
tlents, slightly more than % per
cent, had swum, waded or pad
died in more or less contaminated
waters just prior to the attack.
Another theory, less we'll sup
ported by fact, also concerns
swimming and suggests that I'M
due cooling of the body may rem
der it susceptible to infection With
the virus Of the disease.
Due to a Virus
There is no Goubt that infantile
paralysis is an infection due to a
virus and probably enters the body
through the nose; only in the nose,
where the olfactory nerve spreads
out, are nerves which go directly
to the central nervous system ex-
posed.
1t is hard TO believe that there
is only one way for this infection
TO occur. 1t may come from drop
let infection on food or from hu-
man contact. For instance, a case
has been reported of four boys in
a boys school, all of whom came
down the same day. No other cases
developed in the school. Careful
analysis was made of their daily
habits and lives; they were not in
close contact either in dormitories
or in classrooms but they were all
served at the table by a maid in
whose home two cases of infantile
paralysis later occurred. This
looks like pretty we'll proved case
of a human carrier.
Under the heading Of treatment,
undoubtedly the most important
advance has been the so-called
Kenny treatment, the principle of
which is to prevent contracture by
early passive movement. At the
University Of Minnesota, where
Nurse Kenny is now working, ar
engagements have been made TO Of
fer a course of this treatment to
physicians, hospital nurses and
physical therapy technicians.
1t should be remembered that
infantile paralysis is not very
contagious disease and that even
in epidemic areas only a small
number of people exposed take
the disease.
For treatment in the acute
stages. the use of convalescent Sc
rum is about the only thing that
has any standing. Nobody would
claim that it is anywhere like 100
per cent perfect, but it does no
harm and should. in my opinion,
be given a trial whenever possible
and available.
An interesting observation that
has not been followed up very
closely in this country is that of a
Swiss doctor, Contat, who in the
1887 epidemic prescribed potas-
SUM chlorate for the relief Of the
sore throat accompanying the dis
ease. He was greatly surprised at
the favorable turn taken by the
patient, as the temperature soon
became normal and signs of men,
ingeal irritation and paralysis dis
appeared. He followed this up by
treating the next 35 cases with
potassium chlorate and in the
whole series there was no fatality
and little permanent paralysis.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NJ. L. W: Please tell me what
70 do about a small lump the size
OF a pea on the back Of the neck.
Answer: Consult a doctor and
find out what it is II is probably
nothing more serious than wen
which can easily be removed.
". B. D: Please tell me what
effect digitals has on the heart.
Does 1t strengthen the heart?
Over how long a period could
three grains Of digitalis be taken
without i'll effect?
Answer: Digitalis is one Of the
best drugs to improve the output
Of the heart and the circulation.
Three grains a day Of the pow
dered leaf Of digitalis cannot be
taken very long without causing
nausea. Those who are on a main
tenance dose Of digitalis usually
leave of for one or two days at the
end Of the week. This prevents
cumulated dosage and insures a
more even action.
App6inrfh.nts are the only things
We recognize
Mayor LaGua-dia Of New York
was the caller I'm referring 70.
The gal on the phone desk
hadn't heard Of him.
Thus a broker has his utility,
II fo- no more than Introductory