Show I Present Prese Lay av Th 0 o 9 Polio s 4 is a word coined from rom the Greek It is a very old disease even though its as a clinical enmity does not exceed years In its recognizable form it was wasa a a paralytic disease of small children children child child- ren ea showing a much higher incidence incidence incidence inci inci- dence among those living on farms or r out-lying out districts In the la last t 50 0 years it has gradually changed many of its characteristics It is no longer a disease of small childen children children child- child ren en in sp sparsely settled areas it appears regularly in large cities and nd towns and each succeeding decade shows a larger percentage of adults stricken With improved sanitation and personal hygiene the he filth diseases typhoid tary ary cholera and polio replaced them The explanation of this replacement replacement replacement replace replace- ment can only be surmised Polio must have existed when filth diseases ses es were rampant as a universal disease of childhood A high rate of was established for for city children presenting itself as a a 1 minor infection such uch as a cold or orlu flu lu with a rare case showing paralysis para para- lysis ysis of the legs As cities and towns began to clean up the virus and a non immune population ap ap- ap- ap i Polio was forgotten until a aluman human luman carrier arrived This time timet it t was different the soil was vas no now v fertile in in these non-immune non people Overwhelming evidence shows most individuals in densey populated populated populated communities follow the ancient ancient ancient an an- pattern today Tests show the vast majority of the population over 35 have blood antibodies ies es sufficient to prevent to disease What was a minor disease of childhood caused by Polio virus which left them comparatively safe During a Polio epidemic in Chicago Chicago Chicago Chi Chi- cago a stool study was made from fron contact non contact and control children Polio virus was recovered from over 50 of contacts contacts 86 4 1 of positive no-contacts no were years of oJ age 80 age 80 of family and 78 o of non family contacts were 5 1 years of age age 25 25 of non fam ily contacts over 6 years were positive From this study stud it was calculated that most Chicago children children children child child- ren had polio by their birthday and 75 twice by age 6 with no rio symptoms A There are three known types of I polio with each having several i strains Infection of one type produces produces produces pro pro- duces immunity to all strains of this type but not other types which may account for the rare second attacks The virus enters through the intestinal track and very early invades the blood stream It remains remains remains re re- re- re mains here 72 24 hours then dis- dis and 34 4 days later the Infected infected infected In in- person is is either well or shows symptoms of the disease Thousands of unsuspected minor illnesses occur to one case of nervous nervous nervous ner ner- system disease There are no laboratory tests that can confirm or deny the existence of polio in any given iven The rests wholly upon the experience training training train train- ing and opinion of the B 13 There Is is 15 nothing to show any steps ever during taken during an n I epidemic of polio to prevent us its spread has bas ever lessened the m mic c incidence by a single case During an epidemic the population should carry on their usual activities ties tics and as far as possible stay with with- in their circle of acquaintances At Atthe Atthe Atthe the first sign of minor illness stay in bed until well and especially refrain refrain refrain re re- frain from strenuous activities for forat forat forat at least a Thus prevent prevent- ing a breakdown in natures nature's bar against a delayed invasion of the nerv nervous us system A Chi Chick k Study B Polio A. A G. G Bower MD M.D. Cl Prof MD M.D. use |