The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1950-08-17
Cruger CoIored Child May Have Polio;
Health Officer Asks For Precaution
Health Officer Lists
Some Rules Which
Should Be Followed

Should Be Followed
A colored child from the vicin- q
ity of Cruger in Holmes county
was taken to the polio clinic in
Vicksburg Tuesday with what
was believed to be a case of polio
myeltis.
1t will be several DAYS before
outcome of the case will be known,
officials said.
DR.. R. c. Fraser, county health
officer, through the medium of
this newspaper asked the public
not to become panic-stricken in
any way but to observe every pre-
caution possible to avoid the dis
ease.
The Health Officer issued the
following statement which The
Advertiser regards as important
reading for every subscriber of
this paper:
Despite lack of definite know
ledge about the causes of poliomy-
elitis, national authorities in the
polio prevention field are agreed
on certain precautions which are
believed to afford reasonable pro-
lection against the dread disease.
Heading the list is cleanliness.
While medical opinion is divid-
ed as to whether the polio virus
tr.ers the system through the in
testinal tract or tic respiratory
tract, it is clear that careful at
tention to personal hygiene at
lords important protection in
J either case.
The U. S. Public Health Service
urges parents to encourage more
frequent and more thorough hand
washings in your family; make
sure that hands are washed i'm
mediately before handling food
and always after going to the
toilet"
The National Foundation for In
fantile Paralysis says 1--WE should
teach children and youth to wash
their hands before eating, after
the toilet, and when the hands
have been soiled by either oral or
nasal discharges; 4 and to do it
with the same care and ca.lselan-
tiousness that has proved SO eff
fective in helping physicians, dem
| f1Cfc onH Sa1yrcnc 10 ax5ail 1~nnoI
ing infection from the sick to the
we'll"
1t has also been pointed out that
because of the "lick-and-a-prom-
Use" with which children CUSTOM
drlly wash their hands, use of a
gray abrasive soap affords maxi
mum protection because the tiny
particules of pumice in such soap
do a more effective cleansing Job
even in cold or hard water.
Precautions Set
Other polio precautions stressed
by national health organizations.
public health officials and insur-
dIlCe companies are.
/. See that children get ample
rest and sleep to avoid overtired-
ness or exhaustion. Normal activi-
ties, however, should not be re-
stricted.
z Keep children, especially I'm
der ten years of age, out of crowds,
whether at picnics, parties, SWIM
ming pools or elsewhere.
3. Precautions should be taken
against sudden or excessive chill
ing.
4. Avoid unnecessary trips which
would mean close contact with
other youngsters or needless tir-
ing of children.
5. Call your physician if you
notice any illness, even though it
may appear minor. Prompt medi-
cal attention is advisable and sem
sible.
An additional point emphasized
by many authorities is the avoid
ance of panic. The fears of parents
and adults are readily transmitted
to children.
DR.. Fraser said that as long as
the exact nature of poliomyelitis
remains unknown, no rules or re-
gulations al take the place of
common ems and good judgment
in guarding against polio.