The occurrence of infantile paralysis in Massachusetts in 1908 : reported for the Massachusetts State Board of Health / by Robert W. Lovett and Herbert C. Emerson.

  • Robert W. Lovett
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The occurrence of infantile paralysis in Massachusetts in 1908 : reported for the Massachusetts State Board of Health / by Robert W. Lovett and Herbert C. Emerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    spinal meningitis is an infectious disease, apparently mildly contagious,1 4 affecting many children, and manifested in the central nervous system. < Presenting these points of similarity it has been thought that its char- acteristics might possibly in the future throw some light on the disease j under consideration. For purposes of simplicity the epidemic in Franklin County will be ] dealt with separately by Dr. Emerson, and in the following analysis will J be considered only the cases occurring in the State at large. The two j analyses taken together will give the occurrence of the disease in the | whole State. The distribution of the 67 cases may be seen in the map for 1908, I accompanying this paper. Contagion has been so carefully studied in the epidemic that it will not be dwelt on here. Traumatism. — In 1 case a history of exposure to dampness was given, J and in 9 cases histories of trauma preceding the disease. These histories,}!, however, were in many instances vague and unreliable. Season of Onset. — Cases occurred as follows: January, 1; February, 1; March, 1: May, 2; June, 1; July, 9; August, 11; September, 14; j October, 15; November, 7; date not given, 5. The season of onset does not differ materially from that in 1907, but does differ essentially from the season of onset in Franklin County, ‘ where it was as follows: March, 1; April, 1; June, 6; July, 28; August, 26; September, 5; November, 2. Age. — The largest number of cases (19) occurred between the ages of one and two, and for the years from two to eight there were reported from 3 to 8 cases for each age; after this the reported cases were 1 or 2 a year up to 16. There were 2 adult cases reported, one twenty-one and one forty. Sex. — There were 39 males, 26 females and 2 not stated. As to other factors of possible interest in the etiology, 38 lived in detached houses and 27 in tenements, while 2 were not stated. Of the cases in tenements, 12 of the patients lived on the first floor, 10 on; the second, 4 on the third and 1 in the basement. Sanitary conditions- were described as excellent in 24, good in 20, fair in 16, bad in 5. Symptoms. — In 54 cases fever was present, the temperature ranging: from 100 to 104. In 1 case no fever was present. In 12 cases no record i given. Brain symptoms occurred in 15 cases. There was usually de- lirium during the febrile state. Vomiting is recorded in 21 cases, con- j stipation in 20 and diarrhoea in 8. Detraction of the head present in 10 cases. Pain is recorded in 46 cases, absent in 2. The pain was-I i Killer and Huntoon: Jour, of Med. Research, June, 190U.
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