INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14213, 2 February 1917, Page 5

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Although infantile. has proved to be 0U& tit he! most baffling diseases whicl^pfcysiciaiw-ha-ve ever been | called upon tb ideal with' iv epidemic' form, it ia ikiiowlj, that certain -aitertreatment often lessen? the loss of muscular power and sometimes prevents the young patient from being crippled for life. As a consequence, New York doctors are urging the parents of stricken children to obtain special treatment, wh;oh includes massage 7 and electric stimulation of the affected muscles, and ( a number of hospitals and dispensai*ies' are 00-opei-atinig with the health authorities, -so that .the .treatment may not bo conlined to the wealthy classes. One of the institutions - which will give free treatment to all who cannot afford to pay. a private physician's fee Is the Hospital for Deformities and Joint Diseases. This " hospital is said to bo the lai-gesfc orthopedic . institution 'm ;.the world, and it 9 methods of after-treatment' for paralysis' oases should, therefore ; have a w'ide< interest among physicians. A corps of 40 traiiied masseurs is employed by the- hospital, to give massage and Swedish movements under the guidance and direction'- of physiciajis m charge of the department for paralysis cases. The effect of . massage may- be ..classified as follows: Mechanical, reflex, thermal, .electrical.'' The ; electrical",' effect of massage results partly from the development of the surface heat; Jpartly from the surface friction, partly from the attrition of the muscular fibres and cells, and partly 1 from the nerve stimulation and chemical action. "We, .give to the muscles involved a sinusoidal current," j said a member of the 'hospital staff, alternating \.with a cvmbined galvanic 1 and faradio cuiTent ' that contracts 72 i times a minute, synohronous with the heart be4-t; and I regard this as art aid in'" the effect. •;It|is knowin that contraction of the muscle^ can be .obtained by means of an electric' current ' wlien none ta« be obta.ined br the will ;' hence, I this is a valuable means of retainiug • and developing the muscle fibre until it : comes uttder the guidance .of the mind."