A study of six hundred and thirty-five cases of infantile paralysis : with especial reference to treatment : from the Children's Hospital, Boston / Robert W. Lovett and W.P. Lucas.

  • Lovett, Robert W. (Robert Williamson), 1859-1924.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A study of six hundred and thirty-five cases of infantile paralysis : with especial reference to treatment : from the Children's Hospital, Boston / Robert W. Lovett and W.P. Lucas. 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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    Jaiile ]. No. of A. —Sliffht nccidonts : Cases. SllKlit fall 20 Fall from cradle H Fall from chair 1 Fall from swinp ] Fall from carriage I'-all from automobile i Fall while walking, skating or playing. ... .'3 Dropped by nurse ] Falling under other children 1 B. —More serious accidents : Fall from a third-story window 1 h'all from first story window 1 Stone fell on the head i Gate fell on the foot l Fracture of tibia ] Total 41 In all of these cases the paralysis followed immedi- ately or so shortly after the accident as to suggest to the parent’s mind the relation of cause and effect. In a second series of six cases (Table 2) the paralysis, did not follow the accident immediately, but came on at an interval of some days. Table 2. Fall from chair Paralysis a few days later Fall from carriage Paralysis a few days later Fall from bed Paralysis 7 days later Fall Paralysis 3 weeks later “Injury” Paralysis 1 week later Sprain of ankle Paralysis later Of these 47 cases, 16 were rejected on the ground that the history was not sufficiently definite as to the traumatism, leaving 31 cases where a clearly described accident or fall preceded the paralysis immediately or at an interval of a few days. We do not consider that our cases, suggestive as they are, establish the traumatic origin of anterior poliomye- litis, but that so large a number give a clear history of trauma preceding the paralysis we consider worthy of serious consideration in formulating the etiology. Un- less one is disposed to dismiss this evidence as neces- sarily untrustworthy, which seems hardly justifiable, one of two suppositions seems likely: (1) Either trauma may be regarded as predisposing to infection of the spinal cord, or (2) trauma causes a disease so closely re..embling anterior poliomyelitis as to be indistin^ish- able from it. In 234 cases of infantile paralysis re- ported to the State Board of Health of Massachusetts occurring in the state in 1907, there were 35 authentic