INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2670, 27 November 1909, Page 2

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

A SERIOUS OUTBREAK

There is an epidemic of infant lie paralysis in the Ballina (New South Wales) district. Dr. Sanderson, Government medical officer, supplies the Sydney Morning Herald” with the following statement: —“The outbreak began on September 12. It attacked children only, the eldest' case being 10 years. The first case was fairly typical, the child being three years old. When first seen she was suffering from high fever. restlessness, -and pains in the hack and lambs. Twenty-four hours later the legs and arms were found to be limp and flaccid with complete loss of power. After three wee'ks’ medical treatment the child regained the use of the legs, and one arm, the other arm remaining paralysed, although showing no signs of wasting. The child’s general condition is good. She eats and sleeps well, and is bright and cheerful. The other cases were similar, only dess severe, only two of the limbs being affected, and paralysis clearing aff after three or four weeks. ,In the two cases the onset began . with convulsions. There bavo been over'twenty cases in the district, but SO' for no case has been fatal. Medical opinion is divided as to whether the disease is infectious or not, but the fact that only one child in a family of four or five children is attacked is against the view that it is infectious. As to the cause' of the disease, little is known. Idle treatment in the successful cases has been administration of strychnine, combined with massage, after the acute stage is over.”