The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-09-13
Three Po|iomye|itis Cases Reported
In Hardin Area. Victims HospitaIized
Children Token To
Billings. Precautions
Aquinst Disease Given

bllllu9S. FreCouuonS
Against Disease Given
The illness of three Big Horn
county young people have been
definitely diagnosed as polio
myelitis Gnfantile paralysiS)
and all three are receiving
treatment in Billings.
Stricken last week were Kath-
crime Paulson. IA, and her bro
ther, Elmer, ID, children of Mr..
and Mrs. Robert Paulson. Eun-
ice Torske, daughter of Ed Tor
ske, was taken to Billings
on Tuesday.
The extremely hot, dry
weather of the latter part OF
August brought about condi-
lions favorable for the spread
of the disease in this commun-
ity, DR.. L. H. Laibbitt. county
health officer, pointed out. This
type of weather always pre-
cedes outbreaks of polio, but
the means by which it is
spread is not definitely known
to science. Flies are suspected
of passing the infection along.
but the case against them has
not been proved.
Symptoms of the disease are
the same as those of most acute
infections. and include chills.
fever, vomiting, abdominal
cramps, etc. A positive diagno-
sis cannot be made until the
development of paralysis. When
one case proves to be polio
imyelitis, all gastro-intestinal
illnesses can be suspected OF
being the beginning of ! the
same infection.
Any person who develops all
or part of the symptoms men,
toned abve should be kept in
bed until completely recovered
and contacts with others should
be avoided. Voluntary isolation
of any suspected case is the
best method of controlling the
disease, it was pointed out, but
tthe cooperation of everyone is
necessary. Those who have been
exposed to polio or who have
been in contact with exposed
persons, should avoid social
contacts as much as possible,
since they possibly carry the
disease.
The polio season is nearing
its close, so that probably any
new cases will result c.1ly from
contacts with the cases already
developed, it was stated. All
those known to have been ex-
posed have been asked to keep
children out of school and at
home for two weeks.
The following rules were CIV
en- for avoiding the infection:
Keep children off hot, dusty
streets and away from crowds.
Keep hands clean and reduce
the handling of food by fingers
as much as possible.
Keep flies from. contaminat-
ing food.
Keep from contracting those
who have been Ill.
Elmer Skeie, superintendent
of schools of District 17-H has
announced. that the schools will
not close, upon the advice of
DR.. Kilbourne of the Montana
State Board of Health.
In a telephone conversation
with Mr.. Skeie "Wednesday, DR..
Kilbourne said, 1--WE do not en-
courage the closing of school.
We can tell much better what
Is happening when school is in
session. and we feel there is
much less danger to the child
rem when they are in school
than when they are Just turned
loose. There has been no in
Stance n which the closing of
school has made any differ
ence in the instance of the
disease.
MIR. Skeie also urged all par
ents to be alert for symptoms
of polio and advised them to
call doctor at once in order
to have a diagnosis made at
the earliest possible moment.
He announced that the district
nurse, Miss Beulah Hunnes,
will arrive in Hardin Sept. 16
to take over the work as school
nurse for District 17-H. This
will enable school officials to
keep a close check on students.