The treatment of infantile paralysis / by Robert W. Lovett.

  • Robert W. Lovett
Date:
[1916], ©1916
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of infantile paralysis / by Robert W. Lovett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Following the development of the paralysis comes a stationary period, after which begins a spontaneous improvement in muscle power. This was formerly thought to last for about six months, but later observation has shown that it is by no means ended at the end of one year (Vermont figures). The final paralysis is, however, always less than the initial if the patient lives. The paralysis is more often partial than total,1 1,452 affected muscles, 416 totally paralyzed, 1,136 retaining some degree of contractility (about 2.5 to 1). Estimated by the muscle¬ testing apparatus, to be spoken of later, which deals more with muscle groups and which detects more slightly affected muscular action, the proportion was about 9 to 1, 958 partially paralyzed groups and in totally paralyzed. Distribution and Severity.—Location.—In 251 Vermont cases of all ages and of all durations since the attack, none, however, of less than two months, a careful personal examina¬ tion gave the local distribution shown in the table. In 985 cases from the Massachusetts figures collected from the physi¬ cians’ reports dealing with both acute and subacute cases, this class being naturally less closely and accurately observed than the Vermont cases showed slightly differing figures which are added for comparison. The two groups agree fairly well in showing that the affection of one leg is the commonest type, followed by that of both legs. Vermont Massachusetts Cases Cases 1 leg. . 95 324 2 legs. . 73 272 1 arm. 84 2 arms. . 4 23 1 leg, 1 arm. . 16 143 2 legs, 1 arm. . 14 1 leg, 2 arms. . 4 IO 2 legs, 2 arms. . 14 129 251 985 The accompanying table gives the number of total paralyses of each muscle, the number of partial and total paralyses, and 1 R. W. Lovett: “The Treatment of Infantile Paralysis,” “jour. A. M. A.,” June 26, 1915.