Evening star., 1944-08-25
Rutland Admits
Polio Epidemic
Cases Total 120
Health Officer Insists,
However, Situation
Is Not Serious

He insisted, however, that the
epidemic had not yet reached "seri-
GUS proportions" and was compar-
atively light here in proportion tc
the population. He said Washington
has much better record so fal
in this respect than many other
afflicted cities. More than 80 pei
cent of the victims will fully re.
cover he said.
The Health Department has nc
intention now of forbidding public
gatherings, postponing the opening
OF schools, or closing swimming
pools, DR.. Rutland emphasized. Ad-
vice from experts of poliomyelitis
he said, point to the use of such
gestures" as ineffective in con-
trolling the spread of the disease.
Seven More Persons Stricken.
There was one death late yes
terday, the sixth within the city
and seventh for the Metropolitan
Area since July l. The last prior
death was on August II. Seven per-
sons including a 24-year-old woman
were stricken during the last "a
hours.
Asked what the Health Depart.
ment was doing to check further
spread of the epidemic, DR.. Ruhland
outlined quarantine regulations al
ready in effect and his own four
point program of precautions.
I'VE quarantine every known case
for IA days." DR.. Ruhland explained
I'VE restrict the going and coming
of children and food-handlers in
families where the disease has
struck. For instance, we shall not
permit children in a family where
there is case of poliomyelitis to
go to school, If the father or mother
or some other adult in such a
stricken family is handling food
somewhere, at their employment
we shall not allow them to go to
work where they can touch food
other people may eat"
Ruhland's Precautions.
His four-point program of precau-
ton was outlined to The Star briefly
as follows:
/. Personal cleanliness is ESSENTIAL.
Keep fingers away from the mouth
and nose. Wash frequently, always
before eating.
2. Operations of choice among
children, especially tonsillectomies
and on the nose, should be post
poned wherever possible This policy
has been widely adopted already by
surgeons and hospitals here.
8. Parents should not travel with
their children to areas where there
is greater prevalence of polio than
In Washington.
4. If parents with children are
visiting in other communities which
are relatively free from polio, the
children should not be brought back
to Washington unless there is a
compelling necessity" for return.
May Continue Till October 1.
Asked what further regulations
would be adopted If the epidemic
became much worse, DR.. Rutland
said these problems would be met
when and if the epidemic reached
serious proportions.
I'VE undoubtedly have an cpl
demic," the health officer said. THE
question is how bad is it, and what
damage will it do?
There is no doubt about the
increased prevalence of poliomye-
litis, and with the weather of late
summer, we shall probably have still
more cases. They may keep on de-
veloping until late September or
maybe the first of October.
The important thing is that more
than 80 per cent or the cases will
get well, others will have consid-
erable restoration and a few die.
While we deplore the deaths, it
still Is true that Washington has
one of the lowest incidences of
poliomyelitis of any large stricken
city. I hope it will remain So"
While there is no known cure
for the disease, Dr. Rutland said
the Kenny method of applying
packs and manipulating muscles is
helpful. ut relaxes the muscles,
avoids contractions and may avoid
contortion Of the muscle" he ex-
planned.
More Machines Needed.
AT Chlldren's Hospital where two
new machines for steaming and
Wringing out hot packs are in use,
officials said they would be glad if
further organizations or persons
would contribute more of the
devices. They cost about $4OO each.
The two were contributed by the
District Chapter, National Founda-
ton for Infantile Paralysis, and by
the Junior Board of Commerce.
OF the 120 cases in the Metro
politan Area, 70 originated in Wash
ington and At in nearby counties.
Today there were 81 cases under
treatment at Children's Hospital,
% at Gallinger, three at Walter
Reed and two at home. The re-
mainder of the convalescent cases
had gone back to their homes.
The seventh death was that of
Robert Cooksey, 80, of 708 A street
Sc, who succumbed to the disease
late yesterday at Gallinger. He was
the first adult to die of polio this
year. He had been taken to the
hospital Monday.
Another adult was stricken YES
terday, a 24-year- -old woman from
the Northeast section of the city.
who was taken to Gallinger.
The latest case was that of a H.
year-old Arlington CVa) boy.
Baltimore to Close Pools.
Other new cases during the last
"A hours included a 4-year-old boy
from the Southeast section, a l5-
year-old girl from the Cabin John
(Md) area, 4-year-old and 6-year-
old boys from Hyattsville, Md, and
a 5-year-old girl from Southwest
Washington.
Baltimore will close its city park
swimming pools tomorrow, a week
earlier than in past years, city
officials announced. Patronage at
the pools had been poor since August
l. 1t was said. Three new cases of
polio reported yesterday brought
Baltimore CitV cases for the Woo r