INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25364, 11 December 1947, Page 4

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Sir,—lf I were a mother facing the menace of infantile paralysis I would, had ’I a refrigerator, shut the door and forget it Granted the disease is caused through failure of the system to resist the bacillus, the reasonable thing seems to build up resistance by providing the right food and required vitamins, which cannot be provided by devitalised food, like refrigerated fdod. Also, children lose appetite because the food has lost its savour. During the influenza of 1919 many women hung cut onions about the house—not “quait naice,” but very effective. In most instances those houses were passed over. Could not this be applicable to this disease. If I had children, I would feed them copiously with raw onions and garlic. If all this has caused offence, I am sorry. Take no notice of me.—Yours, etc., . BARBARA JEKYLL. December 9, 1947.

Sir,—With reference to infantile precautions, would you please allow me to ask how dance recitals and such break-up parties are affected? Is it to be left to parents’ own sense of responsibility or are such gatherings to be banned?—Yours, etc., PARENT.

December 8. 1947. [This letter was referred to the As-sistant-Medical Officer of Health (Dr. D. P. Kennedy), who said that gatherings of children under 16 years of age were banned. The holding of gatherings for adults was left to the sense of responsibility of those concerned, and they were definitely inadvisable.]

Sir, —The danger of infantile paralysis can be greatly minimised or even averted by taking vitamin 8.l tablets daily, as well as plenty of the vitamin 8.l foods, wholemeal, dried yeast drinks and whole barley water. Vitamin 8.l stimulates the nerves and builds up nerve cells wh;ch must be in perfect order as they 'control the impulses and the muscles of the body. Nerve cells must be continually repaired; therefore a daily intake of vitamin 8.l is essential. For the two-year to five-year-old child, two tablets daily, from five years onwards, one tablet after each meal. For very young children, barley water is high in .vitamin 8.1—20 z of whole barley, plenty of water, boil for half hour, strain. Plunket nurses would advise how often to take. While the epidemic lasts, the 8.l tablets give quickest results. —Yours, etc., VITAMIN. December 8. 1947.

[The Assistant-Medical Officer of Health (Dr. D. P. Kennedy) said he had no comment to make when this letter was referred to him.]

Sir,—lt is perhaps not generally realised that the rays discharged toy cinematograph projectors, producing an effect of molecular fission upon the Technicolour-impregnated dust from the upholstery of theatre seats, results in the charging of the atmosphere with the germicidal element known as Epicroon, affording complete protection to patrons against the virus of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). A similar phenomenon occurs on racecourses where—in contrast to other gatherings, and to trains; steamers, etc. —the epidermic dust of horses’ coats, excited by the magnetic nervous discharge of the spectators’ eves, produces a kindred prophylactic known as Epicrace. This will explain to readers certain seemingly obscure aspects of the departmental precautions in the present epidemic. It must not be thought that the department would discriminate unfairly between institutions and organisations which can be persuaded voluntarily to abandon their assemblies, and these daily, nightly, and weekly assemblies which continue to be advertised and patronised.—Yours, etcj SCIENCE AND HEALTH. December 9, 1947.