PARALYSIS FIGHT SUCCEEDS

The report of the first week's efforts of the Harvard Infantile Paralysis Committee contains the following account of the work: "In the first week since the Harvard Infantile Paralysis Commission was established, the commission has assisted in the diagnosis and treatment of 20 cases of Infantile paralysis. The serum obtained from the blood of those who have recovered from the disease in the past has been given in 14 cases. Of these, two who have been ill for some time died, four were paralyzed before the serum was given, and of the remaining eight who were given serum in the earliest stages of the disease, none as yet has developed paralysis. These results are encouraging for the use of the serum in the earliest stages of the disease.

"In so short a time and with so few cases concerned, no general conclusions can be drawn, nor the permanent value of the serum established. The limited experience, however, of the Commission corroborates to date the results obtained in New York and elsewhere.

"Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the fact that beneficial results from the use of the serum can only be hoped for when it is given in the very earliest stages of the disease and before the evidence of even the slightest paralysis appears. The experts of the Commission are on call day and night at the Medical School to respond to requests from physicians for assistance in the early diagnosis of the disease and for administering serum if desired.

"The serum and the services of the diagnostician are furnished free of charge by the Commission.

"More serum is urgently needed if the Commission is to respond to all the demands made upon it. In the first week 15 persons have volunteered and permitted the required amount of blood to be taken from them by a process which is without the slightest danger. The Commission will gladly pay the traveling expenses of those who wish to volunteer and will come to the Medical School."