Again, Infantile Paralysis

New York City had 195 cases of infantile paralysis July 25. By Aug. 4 there were more than 800 cases, mostly in Brooklyn. Anxious suburban parents, obliged to go to the city, avoided their children upon returning home until after they had changed clothes and gargled. Child campers in New England, New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were forbidden visitors from the city. City health authorities opened stations to take blood from convalescents from the disease. Convalescent blood serum is a remedy if used early enough. Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt, "an aspirant for the presidency" in 1932, who was stricken by the disease in middle life, gave a pint of his blood. He did likewise in 1926.

The epidemic, however, was local. Of major U. S. cities, New Orleans, Buffalo, Los Angeles (which had an epidemic last July and August) and St. Paul each had but one case of infantile paralysis. Last week Chicago had 6, Washington 4, Detroit 5, Boston 7, New Haven 18.

Children are much more susceptible than adults. Early symptoms are like those of many other diseases--restlessness or drowsiness, fever, irritability. The infected child may vomit once or twice, may be either constipated or have diarrhea. More significant are a sore, stiff neck and spine, pain in the back, arms and legs.

If a child shows such symptoms he should be put to bed and a doctor called. Serum can check the disease in its early stages. But if paralysis sets in, the disease will run its course. If the child does not die, much time and effort will be needed to re-educate its paralyzed muscles.

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