Evening star., 1944-08-17
Paid Helpers
Sought 10 Give
Polio Treatment
Health Department
To Confine Cuses to
ChiIdren's, GoIIinqer

4tSRoA VAAA6 q oAAOt Ua8C Va HJbCllu.
ants for the Kenny treatment of
infantile paralysis, the Health De-
partment yesterday called for LAY
paid helpers" TO be trained in this
treatment at Children's and CAL
lnger Hospitals.
While Gallinger will confine it.
self to District cases and Children's
to care of cases from nearby Mary
land and Virginia counties, it was
agreed that in certain instances
outside cases could 60 to Gallinger.
Such an exception would be older
persons, ineligible for Children's.
Decided at Conference.
The Health Department made its
statement after a conference Of
Health Officer George C. Rutland
with hospital officials, representa-
tives of the Red Cross, Infantile
Paralysis Foundation and the Chill
dren's Bureau. Prior to the meet
ing, DR.. Rutland had conferred
with Commissioner Guy Mason on
the admission Of out-of town cases
to Gallinger.
1t was decided at the meeting
that all cases would be confined to
Gallinger and Children's and not
scattered throughout the city. The
majority Of cases so far have been
st Childrens.
OF the SO patients treated In
"o chinotNr Sinnn Trr1x,
reported within the last 30 days.
On this basis, the department said,
1t felt provision should be made for
hospital treatment and care Of SO
to IS cases per month.
While it is not certain that the
outbreak will continue at the pres
ent rate. the department said it was
agreed that plans should be made
to provide hospital beds and per-
sonnel for at least 200 patients, the
expected load between now and Oc-
tober.
Financial Aid Promised.
The District infantile paralysis
chapter of the national foundation
has agreed to pay travelling expenses
and arrange housing for special
nurses brought in from other cities,
and the Children's Bureau report
ed that special nursing assistance
would be provided by their agency.
Red Cross representatives also gave
assurances of support.
Children's nursing service is "rea-
sonably adequate" but it is re-
ported nearing the limit of its bed
capacity, although it can be ex-
panded to provide for perhaps 80
more patients. Gallinger has ade-
quate beos to meet the expected
case load, but is short of nursing
service.
In addition to DR.. Rutland. those
attending included DR.. Daniel L..
Seckinger, acting superintendent of
Gallinger: DR.. James G. Cumming,
head OF the Bureau OF Preventable
Diseases; DR.. Ella Oppenheimer.
director OF the Maternal and Child
Health Bureau of the department;
Mrs. Josephine P. Prescott, direc-
tor OF the Bureau of Public Health
IA pAlul IcklOIlal
medical consultant of the Children,s
Bureau; Otto Lund. manager of the
District Red Gross: G. r. McGin-
mes, medical director of the Ma
tlonal Red Cross, and Judge Fay
Bentley, chairman of the local chap
ter OF the national foundation.
Two Women Stricken.
Two colored women, rs and 28
years of age, were among the six
new cases of infantile paralysis re-
ported during the last "a hours in
the Metropolitan Area. according to
the Health Department.
Most OF the cases since the July l
outbreak of the disease have been
those of children under 10 years of
age, with the single exception of one
person 80 years old.
The six new cases, which were
taken to Children's and Gallinger
Hospitals, three to each institution
brought the total since July l for
the Metropolitan Area up to rs
One OF the six was from Glen Echo
Heights, Md, while the other five
were from the District.