The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, DHCBMB. 28, 1916. INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1655, 28 December 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, DHCBMB. 28, 1916. INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

“TIIF weight <»l‘ present opinion inclines lo llio view tlnil poliomyelitis (iiiLiniil<» pni'nlysis) is exclusively

n lmm:iii disease, :md is spread by Imnmn contact, whatever other causes nmy he found to contribute lo i|> sprend," is tin 1 conclusion j-iii<'» 1 hy a committee of i he* Amrrican Public Health Association, made pnhlic in Washington last month hy the I nitial States Public Health Service. “The specific cause ot poliomyelitis," continues the report, “is a micro-organism. a sorailed virus, which may he positively identified at present only hy its production of poliomyelitis in monkeys experimentally inoculated. Such experiments have shown this virus to he present not only in I lie nervous tissues and certain other myaiis of persons who have died of poliomyelil is, hut also in the nose, mouth, and bowel discharges of patients suffering from Hie disease." The committee recommends the folio winy procedure in attempting to control the diesase: Heijuirement that all recognised and suspected cases he promptly reported: isolation of patients in screened premises for at least six weeks; disinfection of body discharges; restriction of movements of intimate associates so far as practicable, as exclusion of children of the family from school or other gatherings; protection of children from contact with other children or the general public during epidemics; observation of contacts for two weeks after the last exposure'. The report concludes ;—“There is no specific treatment of established value in poli-* omyelitis. During - the persistence of the acute symptoms of the disease the important principles of treatment are rest in bed. smptomatic relief and passive support, for the prevention of deformities. Active measures during this stage are not only useless, hut are apt to cause serious and often permanent injury. Hospitalisation of patients where possible should he encouraged. The best chancef of recovery from residual paralysis demand skilful afler-care."