The Present Position.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 14

The Present Position.

On telephoning to Dr. Champtaloup, he said it had been contended of late that some of the domestic animals may play a'part in spreading tho disease;, but this :has not been ide&nitely verified.. Further, it appears that the microbe of infantile paralysis, which proves,''as was expected, to be exceedingly ' small', "has ' been recently identified. -'Much more needs to be done before tho practical value of this research work-will make itself fully felt. Meantime it is reassuring to . know that science has already arrived at a sertirn held to 'iiave curative properties, which can be -prepared from • tho blood of children who have had infantile paralysis as long, as'lo years ago. This serum can be injectcd after the disease lias manifested itself,_ and it is said to be capable of lessening or arresting the tendency to paralysis. Dr. Champtaloup hopes that its_ use can be made available in minimising the effects of t?ie present epidemic, and he takes, a- very hopeful outlook as regards .the.future.

Dr.- Champtaloup remarks that the virus varies - verv greatly in strength in different epidemics. Ho says:

The. Swedish epidemic of 1911 appears •to liavo .been specially virulent, the typical American epidemics liavo heen loss so, and the English and Aiwtral lasian epidemics snem to be still milder. Tho virus.is capable of withstanding: the action of tho gastric and other juices. If. is not known to multiply, excent in an infected individual (man or animal), and to ensure propagation of the disease it must escape from the infected person. This hits been shown to oc.cur along with the secretions of the nose and throat, ,ind tho discharges from the intestines. Infection by Means of Dust, Sputum, and Insects, Tlie virus can, survive in a dry state, and'moiikcys have been infected by the sweepings from rooms in which cases •of'infantile paralysis had been nursed. This activity may account to some extent! for the frequency of the disease in infants, who. .creeping along the floor, would run the greatest risk of getting tho infected dust' into tho nose or throat. The Best Preventive. The best preventive is to keep tho child in the best possible general health, on tho linos shown on paces 1 and 2 of the society's book ("Feeding and Care of Babv"). . Of all things plentv of pure, cool, fresh air. with the avoid-, nnco of undue draughts, is of tho first imnortan"o. One cannot insist too strong]v on sensible clothing, with due consideration for the temperature nnd windiness (or calmness) 0 f tho particular day,

rather than tho time of year. Jiedmaking should bo guided by what is said oil pttgo 85 of tlie society's book. Proper caro with regard to food, feeding, regularity of meals, and regularity of tlie bowels aro of the first importance. Wo and our children arc never so ready to allow hostile microbes to gain a foothold and multiply inside us a.-? when wo are poisoned and weakened by chronic constipation and indigestion. Regular exercise and exposure to the open air niul sunlight aro ol almost equal importance in protecting us. Infection Through Drinking Cups. Tho fact that numbers of people are apt to use tho same drinking cup is .looked on, especially in America, as a serious factor in tho spread of tuberculosis and oilier diseases. Insurance companies have even gono tlio length of issuing folded paper drinking cups for use when travelling, etc., instead of tlio chained cup commonly provided. This precaution is now specially insisted on as u meusure of vital importance in arresting tho spread of infantilo paralysis in schools, and American authorities have gone further by recommending tho use of special forms of drinking fountains, devised for the express purpose of preventing contamination. Symptoms of Onset. The onset of infantile paralysis is marked by severe pain in tho back, high lever, and vomiting—something quite different, as a rule, from tho milder fever and mere fretfulness, dribbling, and lingering the mouth characteristic of teething. But sometimes tho symptoms preceding actual paralysis arc very slight and'insidious, and may pass quite unnoticed. In such eases the first thing to attract the attention of tho mother is the fact' that tho child has lost muscular power in some region. On tlio other hand, tho first distinct note of warning may be convulsions — this being especially liable to occur in babies. Naturally, you would call in a doctor 'if there were any doubt whatever; but at the prcsont moment parents tend to be rather over-anxious about infantilo

paralysis. I should not keep a child away from school simply because there had been a ease of the disease in ono of the pupils attending the school, but I should, ccrtaiuly ho specially careful about keeping ,the child ill tho best possible health.

AUCKLAND CASES TOTAL 271. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 25. Four cases of infantile paralysis were reported to-day, two in tho city and two in tlio country, bringing tlio total cases to 271. DEATH AT PAHIATUA. - Pahiatua, February 25. The infantile paralysis patient, a eirl aged sixteen years, who came from 'the country, died last night. -