INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2845, 12 February 1925, Page 3

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Four fresh cases were admitted to the Palmerston Hospital .yesterday, one from Palmerston N., two from Levin and one from Rongotea. The ages were from six to four years.

Sixteen eases have been admitted from Levin. Of the cases in hospital two are regarded as serious. Recent admissions were cases of a mild character. Several of the patients are now convalescent. A ease was admitted to the Masterton Hospital yesterday, making a total of 2G since the outbreak. The total Dominion notifications u;i to last night for the previous 24 hours were 22.

With reference to prevention of the disease, a writer in the Dominion over the signature of “S.S (M.D., F.R.C.S., etc.)” says: “The preparation I use is camphor, grs. one; acid carbolic grs. two; menthol, grs. four albolene (liquid vaseline) o>ne ounce (to be applied to the nostrils either as a spray or by means of a little surgeon’s wool twirled on the end of a short, thin piece of wood). This would at once end the present epidemic and prevent any further ones. I would also recommend giving each school child half an apple morning and afternoon instead of the tooth brush drill.”

CAUSES OF THE DISEASE. Auckland, February 9. An official statement has been made by the Auckland division of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical- Association as to the present infantile paralysis. It is as follows: 1. The cause of infantile paralysis is a micro-organism. 2. Only a percentage of those infected develop paralysis; in this respect the disease resembles diphtheria. 2. A fall nr an injury is sometimes alleged to he the cause of !rouble. The explanation of' this isIha I in cases where, the onset of paralysis is insidious, attention is first called to the paralysis by a fall.; in other words the oncoming paralysis causes the fall. 4. While we are not yet certain how to isolate and deal with the int’oetion microbe and thus prevent I lie disease we are certain as to what should lie done when an attack of paralysis occurs. So long :v, any signs of nerve irritation or progressing paralysis continue, the patient must he kept at absolute rest, with suitable splinting apparel ns to keep the paralysed muscles in a neutral position.. All other treatment must he subsidiary I<> Ibis. f>. After the acute stage has passed the proper treatment is massage and the re-education of the muscles. (i. P>v proper and efficient splinting in all stages, and by massage and re-education the muscles in the great majority of eases,' if not actually restored to full function, can be rendered efficient. 7. In late stages eases that have I,cen neglected or cases in which from the severity of the disease irrecoverable damage lias been done can be benefited by suitable mechanical operation.