POLIOMYELITIS, INFANTILE PARALYSIS, an acute disease manifest ing itself in inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord. It is not a disease to which adults are liable, except in rare cases, and in one of its forms it attacks the anterior horns of the spinal cord with resultant paralysis, and de bilitation of certain muscles. It is now conceded that many of the great plagues mentioned in history have taken the form of acute poliomyelitis, but the dis ease was first diagnosed and revealed in its epidemic character during its prev alence in Scandinavia midway in the last century. Since that time modern re search has made headway in discovering its causes and elaborating safeguards and correct treatment, the Rockefeller Institute taking a leading part in these investigations.
It is only within the last dozen years or so that it was revealed that acute anterior poliomyelitis was capable of be ing communicated. The filterable but invisible virus has been located in vari ous membranes and secretions of the human body, but its presence there has not as yet been clearly accounted for. Its
admission into the body is considered, in the present state of knowledge, to be in the main through the upper respiratory canals leading to the cerebrospinal fluid. The preliminary symptoms include bron chitis and intestinal maladies, with aches fever, and perspiration, followed by paralysis in the parts attached. The paralysis is usually permanent and no remedy has yet been found for the con dition of atrophy which follows. Where the paralysis affects a vital organ the malady is fatal.
Rest is a prime requisite in the treat, ment of the disease, but this must be varied at proper intervals with massage and auxiliary movement of the affected limb. The further methods in vogue in clude the removal of the cerebrospinal fluid, followed by injection of the virus serum. This treatment is supplemented by calisthenics directed to bringing life and movement into the dormant parts. Where the malady affects an adult the course is similar but more severe, and calls for similar treatment, but is more likely to end in death.