IONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1946 THE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE I'THRJE 'U' PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH: Transmission of Virus Studied by Doctors 'RSY LITTLE HANDS: Children Are Kept Constructively Occupied DuringHospitalization Problems in the transmission of the polio virus are being studied by the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health under a research program. direted by Dr. Thomas Francis Jr., Dr. Gordon Brown, assistant professor of, epi- demiology, revealed in an interview. Since the fall of 1941, Dr. Brown said, the department has been en- gaged in extensive field work dur- ing the polio season of July, Aug- ust and September. "Our staff," he declared, "always prepared to move at a moment's notice if an epidemic occurs, has traveled to many states including Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Illinois." "The exact way in which the virus spreads has not been determined," Dr. Brown said, "but we suspect that it may be transmitted by human be- ings, insects, wild rodents or even water, food or sewage. Since all of these may be possible vectors of the disease," he asserted, "they all must be considered when an epidemic oc- curs." He explained that the greatest problem in the study of plio trans- mission is in discovering what route the virus takes. "We have found recently," he said, "that the virus may be present in the intestinal tract of the human for some time before the onset of the disease, but the significance of this cannot be determined until we know the major route of trans-! mission. We are studying the ex- tent of the presence of virus in the population in order to find out how many people carry the virus with- out actually having the clinical dis- ease." Animals used in the laboratory in- clude monkeys, mice, guinea pigs and Care, Treatment Of Polio Costly, Says O'Connor Expenses of care and treatment that make poliomyelitis one of the costliest diseases known to medicine were detailed today by Basil O'Con- nor, President of the National Foun- dation for Infantile Paralysis, now1 conducting the March of Dimes. Hospitalization for a single infan-1 tile paralysis patient costs more than $2,500 a year, he said. Iron lung cas- es, requiring special nursing attention 24 hours a day, may run over $7,000 a year. Some cases cost less, some much more, depending on the sever- ity of the attack, hospital lcation and other factors. Foundation's Function "Few families," Mr. O'Connor de- clared, "can meet the cost of extended poliomyelitis treatments. That is why the National Foundation and its chap- ters throughout the country are pledged to see that no victim of in-' fantile paralysis goes withont treat- ment for lack of funds, regardless of age, race, creed or color. "The high cost of this crippling di- ease," he continued, "is due to sev- eral factors: (1) patients who are hospitalized require, almost constant attention from doctors, nurses and phlyiscal therapists; (2) additional personnel is frequently needed to pre- pare and apply hot packs; and (3) special equipment and materials, such as braces, wheelchairs, iron lungs, etc., are often necessary. Nursing Care High Nursing care is the costliest single item in the care of infantile paralysis patients. Paralyzed persons, especial- ly children, require the unceasing at- tention of hospital personnel. Such patients must be fed, and need help in all natural functions. Thus, nursing care alone for an iron lung patient in a metropolitan hos- pital will cost more than $40 av day. Approximately $15 each will be ex- pended for two day nurses and $12 for a night nurse. This is exclusive of hospital charges and the additional services which may be necessary, such as physical therapy treatments, hot packs, orthopedic surgery and the like. Second most costly item in the threatment of poliomyelitis is special equipment such as hot pack machines, hydrothergpy equipment, iron lungs, braces, orthopedic shoes, massage tables, heat lamps, walkers, crutches and wheelchairs. 14,000 Persons Stricken Infantile paralysis attacked nearly 14,000 persons in the United States in 1945, making it the fourth worst polio year on record. Infantile paralysis in- cidence the past three years exceeded that of any previous fiveyear period on record. The National Foundation and its local chapters throughout the country disbursed more than $6,500,000 in 1945 for the treatment of polio. Over $1,500,000 was advanced to local chapters by the national organization rabbits. Dr. Brown explained that the monkey is the most useful expe- rimental animal because it is the only one that is susceptible to the various human strains of the disease. "We are looking for strains, however," he said, "that will go into other labora- tory animals." Dr. Brown described the etiologi- cal agent of polio as a filterable virus, smaller than bacteria, that can be seen only with an electron micro- scope. 'You MayHve Polio Without Realizing It' You may have had polio without realizing it. This dread disease, doctors believe, strikes thousands of people in the form of sore throats, stomach upsets and "bad colds" which'are not severe enough for the victim to think it necessary to call a doctor. Unfortu- pools are a potential source of dan- ger. Attempts to solve these problems are slow and costly. Typical of the obstacles is the fact that ordinary ex- perimental animals are not affected by all the virus strains, and much ex- perimentation can be done only with certain kinds of monkeys, both diffi- cult and expensive to procure. Problems exist also in the fields diagnosis and treatment. The fsymptoms (slight fever, stiff neck, irritability) are so hard to recog- nize that definite diagnosis can often be made only with the aid of a lumbar puncture, in which spinal fluid is removed and examined. The 1University Hospital, Miss Dorothy Ketcham, secretary for the local March of Dimes drive, said, acts as a center for diagnosing polio- myelitis and patients come even 200 miles to be examined here. Present methods of treatment help most patients to become better, even though they may never be well. The treatment, however, usually extends over such a long period of time, often many months, that most families cannot afford to pay for it by them- selves. The Kenny packs, which at- tracted so much attention a few years ago, are now thought to be beneficial mainly in easing pain and in their psychological effect on the patient. In order to give comfort to patients, they are applied every hour and as often at 12 to 16 times a day. Physi- cal therapy, such as bathing affected limbs in warm moving water, is also helpful, time-consuming, and expen- sive. Cases in which the nerve cells controlling breathing and heart ac- tion are affected are particularly serious. "Iron lungs" and continual care, according to Dr. James L. .Wilson, foremost authority on. respirator, may save and some- times completely cure those who have "bulbar" polio and have great difficulty with breathing or swal- lowing. This requires, of course, extensive hospitalization. Infantile paralysis is a costly dis- ease-costly because of the research which must be carried on, because of the types of experiments necessary, because of the lengthy and expensive treatment it involves. It is only through you and the dimes you con- tribute that the fight'again polio- meylitis can be carried on. Victims Without Money Treated Emphasizing the fact that care is provided at the University Hospital for any polio victim regardless of fi- nancial status, Miss Dorothy Ket- cham, secretary for the local March of Dimes Campaign, said that expen- ditures during 1945 exceeded by $4,- 000 the amount of money raised in the campaign last year. "In 1945, exclusive of the month of December, we spent $11,535 for the care of the 43 cases now being treated by the hospital," Miss Ketcham said. "The overdraft expenditure was met by using residual funds from other years," she explained. Miss Ketcham also said that during the year just past one patient was fortunate enough to go to the Warm Springs Foundation and a number have gone to the Oakland County Contagious for a time. Others have received treatment in Farmington, Michigan. "Patients from Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter, and other neighbor- ing cities are treated at the hospital," Miss Ketcham said. To keep children constructively occupied during hospitalization, they are kept as active and interested as the doctor thinks advisable, Mrs. Mildred Walton, director of the Spe- cial Education Division of the Social Service Department of University Hospital, stated in an interview yes- terday. The Galens Workshop, the Ki- wanis playroom, a glass-enclosed sun deck and an open-air playroom, equipped with sandboxes, gardens and sailboat ponds, located on the ninth floor of the Hospital are giv- en over to young patients. ' Indivi- dual and group activities are pro- vided for the children, even the bed- ridden, who, if possible, are wheeled to the roof to give, them the fu~ll benefits of sun, air, activities and companionship. A children's library is maintained through gifts, its shelves stocked with picture and reading books for children in the primary grades, pre-primary and recreational fields. Roof Facilities Offered the child that he has a place in the world, Mrs. Walton emphasized, ev- en though a part of his body may be useless. A child who is totally paralyzed is given something to think about, such as arranging parties, playing competitive mental games, and participating in movie andi group discussions. Children who are partially disabled may work in the Galens' workshop where there is a full supply of tools and equipment, and where they learn that there is something which they can do. He is allowed to participate in quieter games so that he will not feel apart from the group. Jandicraft Items Offered Whenrchildren cannot come to the roof, Mrs. Walton declared, special activities teachers go to them, wheel- ing a brightly-colored cart, in which there are books, games, and an infi- nite number of handicraft items. The physician details the require- ments of particular children and the teacher takes over from there. Her main object is to make the child -Daily Photo by Ms: 1 YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HELP: Doras Oldfield, an n paient at University Hospital, is one of the many all over the cm4ry wbo will be helped on the road to recovery by the dimes you donate toa, tomor- row, and Wednesday in the University drive headed by .Je X fey and George Spaulding.' 9 A Developiment o Prsonality,, Strssed in Instryuting Patei U' ' ospital School . wherever he desires and whenever l( desires. There is no coercion! Mrs. Does Varied Tasks Notley emphasized, no attempt to make the student keep up with his A mentally constructive, personal- work while convalescing, yet the ma_ ity development angle is used in the jority of patients, once they have begun, make rapid progress and i t teaching of pupils who are patients~ they return to the hospital, they seek at University Hospital, according to ; out their former teacher, without Mrs. Geraldine Notley, Principal and having to be asked. Director of the Hospital School, one Patients suffering from infantile of the divisions of the Social Service paralysis, as well as from diabetes Department. and other chronic illnesses, benefit Children with every type of ill- happy by developing new interests, ness are allowed to take advantage giving him the best of attention and of the facilities on the roof, as it is care so that infantile paralysis or ^amiliarly called, Mrs. Walton said. any similar disease with which the Among them are some suffering from child is afflicted, will not prove as infantile paralysis and other bone hopeless as it might be otherwise. and joint diseases for whom special His time in the Hospital will permit attention and planning may be in- him new inter-personal experience 'icated. The work of the Special and exchange which will be con- 'ducation Department begins where structive and developmental in his he physical treatment stops, though succeeding life. The child, Mrs. Wal- .aturaliy doctors and social service ton concluded, learns through play workers work in close cooperation, the rules of the road os well as the Every effort is made to convince I road to usefulness itself. - - - - AKE R'S GR L LIBERTY STREET AND DIVISION President Truman .. in speaking of the March of Dimes drive said, "There can be no slow- down in the fight against disease. Our victories abroad must be fol- lowed by a victory on the home front against this common enemy of all mankind. I am certain that no American can fail to respond to such a challenge. nately, Dr. Ernest H. Watson, Uni- versity Hospital peditracian, said persons with this mild and undiag- nosed form of poliomyelitis may transmie the virus to others in whom the disease may take the fearful form which we call "infantile paraly- sis." A disease is terrifying, however, only until it has been brought under control. It is the hope of those who study poliomyelitis, Dr. Watson stated, that eventually a successful vaccine may be discovered. It is known, for instance, that polio is caused b( a virus which cannot be seen with) ordinary microscopes, and that this virus has several strains. It is also known that this virus may be transmitted through droplets ex- pelled when an infected person speaks and sneezes, and that water may be contaminated with it in the same manner as typhoid. Even so, he continues, scientists remain confronted with the prob- lems of why the disease is more prevalent in summefr, although the disease does strike in winter; what part insects may play in the trans- mission; whether or not swimming UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT oaet 7 so Ax week 1 :00 A.M. to 1:00 A.M., MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 1 1 :00 A.M. to 2 A.M., FRIDAY 11:00 A.M. to 4:00,A.M., SATURDAY 2:00 P.M. to 1 A.M., SUNDAY &~keo*46 9ill In existence for 25 years and under the direction of Mrs. Notley during most of that time, the school has become an educational unit serving patients from the age of four through high school and even college level. A staff of fully qualified teachers gives individual instruction to pa- tients, either at their bedside or in the schoolroom, which is . fully equipped with maps, tables, charts, limited materials for laboratory stu- dy, and typewriters for those de- Airing commercial subjects or just a general knowledge of typing. Individual InstructionE Individual instruction, used while patients are hospitalized, Mrs. Not- ley stated, is advantageous to a cer- tain extent and for the limited per- iod of time. Each case is individually considered, books that the child uses in his school are obtained if possible, and the pupil may start his work especially from the school because of the length of time they spend in the hospital. Many have received the greater part of their education there and have taken their places in the world and in college on an equal footing with people their own age. Commercial Course Offered A complete college preparatory as well as commercial course is taught. Every grade from one to twelve is listed, and no matter how little time is spent, the pupil receives a certifi- cate of achievement when he leaves the hospital as well as his discharge. A report of his progress is sent back to the school from which the pupil came. Very often, Mrs. Notley de- clared, the pupil returns ahead of his class. The main purpose of such instruc- tion, Mrs. Notley said, is to channel- ize the interest and energies of the child along constructive lines. - I LIBERTY STREET AND DIVISION -IGHT Qnd BUI APEST UA TE SIXTH ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL "BALANCE" YOUR DIET Students who eat out regularly make LEO PING'S LUNCH a daily habit. E- ed take a SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY Ta - - - N to find your VALENTINE' DON'T PUTTER AROUND Come to the TAVERN CAFE TERIA for a delicious meal serv in homey atmosphere. JOSEF ROISMANN Violin EDGAR ORTENBERG Violin BORIS KROYT Viola MISCHA SCHNEIDER Violoncello I 1 ' /7 p } 1 TELLING THE WORLD... About the meals at the MAY- FLOWER. The restaurant where every meal is a treat (. Friday Evening, January 25, 8:30 Quartet in D minor, Op. 76, No. 2. . Hxo Quare in E-flat major (1943) .. . . -HINDEM\IT Quartet in t in E major, Op. 74 . . . . . . . BEETH0N Saturday Afternoon, January 26, 2:30 -''*i DROWN THAT WASHED OUT FEELING ' , Therapy Training Plan Fights Polio Quartet in F major, K. 590 . . . . . . Quartet No. 12 . . . . . . . . . . .. Quartet in G major, Op. 161 . . . . . Saturday Evening, January 26, 8:30 Quartet in A major, Op. 18, No. 5 . . . . . Quartet . . . . . . . . . . . M NOZART Drop in after a brain teasing hour and have one of our special malted milks. CAMPUS DRUG, 224 South State. PISTON A llo " II I /" '