Evening star., 1944-08-19
Polio
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too much. Let them get a little
natural immunity
Withholding Names.
Meantime. DR.. Rutland, on advice
of Corporation Counsel Richmond
B. Keech, today discontinued the
previous practice of the Health De.
partment in making public the
names of children stricken with the
disease.
Asked if he had considered clos
ing swimming pools, or postponins
the opening of schools, DR. Ruhlanc
said the questions had been dis.
cussed, and it had been decided tc
take no action at this time, because
spread of the disease was not yet
considered serious enough.
DR.. Rutland and DR.. Carl Dauer
epidemiologist of the Health Depart
ment, also maintained the rate OF
about five cases of poliomyelitis per
100000 population did not consti-
tute an epidemic of serious proper
tions.
If the rate rose to Is or 20 cases
per 100000 population, Dr. Rutland
said, that would be a matter for
serious consideration. Buffalo, N. Y
DR.. Dauer said, had about 400 cases
Dr. Rutland also took exception
to some of the six points in the
program of precautions issued by
the Childrens Hospital group OF
physicians, headed by DIR. Joseph S
Wall. chairman of the Medical
Board, and by DR.. P. A. McLendon
chairman of the Special Polio Com
mittee at Children's.
Especially. DR.. Rutland objected
to a proposal that the public boil
city drinking water to protect chill
dren from possible infection.
Watching Water Closely.
The Health Department is watch
ing the water supply closely" he
pointed out. If there were any risk
We would be the first to cry out"
Dr. Rutland characterized tht
proposal to boil drinking water a.
"mischievous," and said there wa!
no danger in the city supply
The proposal to prevent children
from going to gatherings such a!
movies, DR.. Rutland thought wa!
useless. Since science does no
know how the disease is transmit.
ted. but believes it to be by con.
tact. he said, the possibility of par.
ents taking home the virus from
crowded buses and streetcars is 81
great it would not be practicabl,
to try to control absolutely the
movements of children.
This is not a situation where we
should become alarmist," he empha-
sized.
DR.. Rutland praised both DR.. Wal
and Dr. McLendon as physicians in
the private practice of medicine
saying they had all the right in the
world to give any advice they
thought best to their patients. His
principal objection to their state
ments, he said was when they
branched out into the field of epi.
demiology, and characterized the
present outbreak here as serious
epidemic
Both DR.. Wall and DR.. McLendon
had attended a recent conference
at the Health Department on polio
Dr. Rutland said, but had not ad-
vanced their program at that time
especially their proposals to boil
water, and to keep children from
attending movies or parties.
At Children's Hospital, spokes.
man for the doctors conference yes
terday said the physicians would
stand on their six-point program OF
recommendations to prevent the
spread of polio in this area.
The other four points in the pre-.
cautionary program issued at Chill.
dren's Hospital yesterday included
the following:
General cleanliness. This apple.
especially to food, more PARTICULAR,
to uncooked food, and raw fruit
which should be washed and pealed
Avoid bathing in public pools.
Avoid visiting out of the city, es.
pecially in the infected areas.
Overfatigue of children should bt
scrupulously prohibited. Be careful
to give growing children plenty ol
rest, enforced if necessary, in the
afternoon. Children should observe
early bed hours.