D T Watson Home for Crippled Children - Sunny Hill Yearbook (Leetsdale, PA)

Page 14 text:

Problems in Infantile Paralysis During the summer of 19111, physicians were encouraged to refer sus Pected- C5595 of 3-nffmtile Paralysis for early supervision and special 'l'f!'00'UB0Ht -'15 50011 BS possible after diagnosis Attention was directed to relieving general toxemla as well as specific pain and tenderness Early application of hot, moist fomentations was found to give dra matic diminution of pain and tenderness, often relieving the most acute di comfort in a few hours The fear and tension generated by pain and s inflammation were released in a short time and reflex inhibition ,ras re CS TC laxed so that earller motion was possible Early motlon encourag tention of memory of muscle sense, arouses a recognltion of locallzed muscle action, facilitates interchange of circulation, and assures im proved nourishment and function Muscles, joints, and skin rema1n more f actu l normal in appearance and feel to be of better tone, regardless o improvement ln power Frequent application of fomentations makes extensive splinting un d necessary because the affected parts are lined up every two hours an are given any extra protection that may be indicated without being re stricted so much as in formal splints Tendencles to deformity are watched and corrected as they occur Emphasis should be given the fact that such frequent attention to posltion is, in effect, splintlng Keeping affected parts pliable and adaptable may make less extensive brac l s for assisting ing necessary But some support may be necessary a way h been impossible due to the severity of parts where return of power as the initial in ult by the virus and the associated inflammation aralys is The publicity given early physical treatment of infantil p hi h have been of equal importance - has overshadowed other studios w c t where the virus is harbored vestigation is being continued to find ou The severity of and what causes its prevalence in certain locations t of inflammation in the spinal cord the attack of the disease, the exten 1 tance of the patient all enter the virulence of the viru , and the res S sis may be permanent, into determinlng at the onset what degree of purely 1 and hysical treatment regardless of the best medica p t d of poliomyelitis is kI1OWl The contribution most needed in the s u y edge of where the virus is harbored, so that the problem may be attacked 'by destroying the virus at its source, as has been done with typhoid fever microorganisms Protective vaccination and antisera have not been successful so far in protecting individuals from an attack Of infantile paralys 1 s