The spirit of preparedness that is sweeping the country has entered even Medford, and the latest object against which local authorities are prepared is infantile paralysis. The danger of infantile paralysis, it seems, is not confined to youngsters and tots, but is a menace to even those of middle age.
    When C. W. Whillock, proprietor of the Golden Rule Store, reached Ashland, having been on a buying trip to New York in the interests of his firm, he was astonished when he was accosted by an attendant of the State Board of Health and informed that he must submit to an inspection before being allowed to proceed, that he must be searched for evidences of infantile paralysis.
    Evidence of the dread disease, however, could not be found and he was allowed to join his waiting family, including his grandchildren.
Medford Mail Tribune, August 21, 1916, page 2  I've found no newspaper mentions of cases of polio in Jackson County before 1916.


    The members of the Kiwanis Club enjoyed talks by Margaret Devereaux, county nurse, and Grace L. Holmes, representing the Oregon Tuberculosis Association.
    Miss Devereaux told of the splendid cooperation she had received here during her first year just closed, both in a business way and socially, and had decided to stay another year. She complimented the Kiwanis Club for taking up the underprivileged child movement and said during the period from 1917 to 1922, thirty-eight children from Jackson County had taken advantage of the hospital service law; in 1922, 90 children, and in 1923 and 1924 the number has greatly increased. The children are first examined here and if cases are reported favorable they are sent to Portland for treatment. If the parents are able they pay for the same, and if not the county stands the expense. Miss Devereaux says the majority of these cases are infantile paralysis.
"Kiwanians Hear Health Officials," Medford Mail Tribune, Jun 16, 1924, page 7

    City Health Officer E. B. Pickel and Superintendent of Schools E. H. Hedrick in order to protect the Medford school public as much as possible from possible spread of infantile paralysis from Klamath Falls have forbidden any child hailing from Klamath Falls or vicinity to enter the Medford schools until after danger of their having the disease is past.
    This rule was put into effect last week, since which time several pupils from families that recently arrived from Klamath Falls applied for entrance into the local schools. At each building where the application was made the applicant was told he or she would have to visit Health Officer Pickel first and obtain permission from him to enter.
    That was the last heard from these applications, for the reason that the pupils never visited Dr. Pickel. However yesterday one applicant, recently from Klamath Falls, visited the doctor to be examined and obtain permission.
    It is understood that no pupils hailing recently from Klamath Falls can enter the Medford schools until the period of incubation or exposure to infantile paralysis is passed--about 21 days.
    There are at present no known cases of infantile paralysis in Medford, Dr. Pickel stated this noon.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 21, 1927, page 2

    PORTLAND, Sept. 29.--(Special.)--Seventy-two cases of epidemic infantile paralysis have been reported to the Oregon State Board of Health. There is no desire to cause unnecessary alarm, but the fact remains that there is an unusually large number of cases of infantile paralysis in this state. Reports from other states indicate an increase in the number of cases of infantile paralysis reported as well as in Oregon. Every available precaution against its spread should be taken. Children should not be permitted to come into contact with sick persons, whether it be adults or children who are ill.
    The essential point in treatment during the acute stage of infantile paralysis is to keep the patient quiet and avoid handling as much as possible. Spinal punctures may be used to relieve pressure. Occasionally splinting may be necessary to prevent deformity. Serum from convalescing cases has been found of value. There appears to be much difference of opinion as to the value of stock serum now on the market. Such serum is made by the use of a streptococcus, which is not yet accepted as the cause of infantile paralysis.
    After the acute stage is over, the treatment consists of re-educating the muscles, correcting any deformity that may have occurred, and preventing further deformity. This line of treatment, of course, often requires a period of years to obtain the greatest degree of improvement in the after-care of infantile paralysis cases.
    The cause of infantile paralysis is not known. The virus is known to be present in the discharges from mouth and nose, and also in the secretions of the alimentary tract of a case or carrier. There is still some uncertainty about its method of spreading. It appears probable that healthy carriers, and missed cases play an important part in disseminating the disease. Owing to the limitations of our knowledge, it is not possible to prescribe exact measures of control and be sure that they will be effective.
    It may be well to bear in mind that infantile paralysis is a disease of childhood. About 65 percent of the cases occur under five years of age, and 30 percent between the ages of five and ten. Most of the remaining 5 percent of the cases are in persons under twenty. Thus it appears that very young children are most likely to have this disease. One general measure of protection would be to keep young children away from other people, including relatives, as much as possible. The more persons a child comes in contact with, the more opportunities it would have of being infected in case such persons were carriers.
    All known cases should be isolated and placed under quarantine during the acute stage, and children in contact with such cases should also be isolated during the period of incubation. There is no routine test by which carriers can be detected, and cases are not often recognized until paralysis occurs. Probably the majority of all cases are abortive in type, and do not develop paralysis. In any case of acute illness where poliomyelitis is suspected the patient should be isolated and reported to the health department as a suspicious case.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 29, 1927, page B1


    Portland. Ore.--The epidemic of infantile paralysis has developed throughout southern Oregon with public schools of Medford and Grants Pass closed and the movements of children restricted in an effort to check the spread of the disease. Theaters at Medford have been closed to children under 16, along with all other public gathering places.
The Film Daily, October 3, 1927, page 1

Gold Hill News, October 6, 1927, page 1

    No new cases of infantile paralysis in either Medford or the county were reported yesterday or today up to late this afternoon, according to City Health Officer E. B. Pickel and Dr. L. D. Inskeep, county physician and head of the county health unit.
    However, death yesterday afternoon ended the suffering of Miss Lucille Reed, 11-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Reed of West Palm Street, who had a paralyzed throat for three days before death came. This leaves the city without any cases at present, as the only other case, that of the Medley baby on West Tenth Street, is reported as recovered. These have been the only two cases inside the city limits, as far as can be learned.
    The Talent public schools closed last night for an indefinite period, or until the infantile paralysis danger is past, according to an edict of the board of education of that city. No cases of the disease have yet appeared in Talent. This makes 22 of the county schools that have been closed as a precautionary measure.
    The officers of the First Presbyterian church of Medford last night voted to discontinue all services and other public meeting activities of the church, beginning with next Sunday morning.
    All church services at Gold Hill are postponed until after the passing of the infantile paralysis danger. Although there are no cases of the disease in that town, it is hoped that by suspending all public meetings there to help prevent any appearance of the dread malady.
    Owing to an apprehensive state of mind engendered by the quarantine situation, much criticism has been in circulation relative to the case of sickness at the Berrian home, and the case of the Medley baby on West Tenth Street, and the fact that no quarantine signs were placed on either home. Such criticism seems unjustified, when the reasons therefor are officially explained. It is the policy of both County Physician Inskeep and City Health Officer Pickel to have every home where a case of infantile paralysis exists quarantined with signs.
    Dr. Pickel explains the Medley case, stating that as soon as it was known that the child was ill with the disease the patient was removed to a hospital, and when recovered was brought home again. Therefore, he says, there was no need to quarantine the Medley home.
    About the case in the Berrian home Dr. Pickel says that the day after the boy became ill he happened to be in the city hall and City Treasurer H. B. Berrian then told him that Dr. Sweeney, the attending physician, thought that his son's illness was rather suspicious. Mr. Berrian asked that no sign be placed on the house until it was definitely known that the illness was due to infantile paralysis.
    Later that afternoon Dr. Sweeney phoned to Dr. Pickel's office, the latter being absent, that the Berrian boy was ill with a mild case of infantile paralysis. Hence the young lady office attendant, in accordance with Dr. Pickel's standing instructions, at once notified Chief of Police McCredie to place a quarantine sign on the Berrian home.
    The next day while Dr. Pickel was at the golf grounds Dr. Sweeney again phoned Dr. Pickel's office that he was mistaken and that the Berrian boy was not ill with infantile paralysis. Still later when Dr. Pickel learned of this he ordered that the sign be taken down and the family released from quarantine.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 7, 1927, page 1


    Dr. Morgan of the Presbyterian church is offering several weekday bible courses available to the school students.… The church services and Sunday school will continue as usual, although the attendance will not be up to normal. Last Sunday no small children were in attendance, and it is thought unwise to urge their attendance until all danger is past.
"Advise Children in Eagle Pt. to Stay at Home," Medford Mail Tribune, October 7, 1927, page B1


    The fish hatchery school, where Miss Myrtle Minter is teaching, was closed Tuesday on account of infantile paralysis, there being a case near the McLeod bridge. We have not heard of any cases being near Reese Creek as yet.
    There were not as many out to Sunday school last Sunday as usual. Some were sick and a few were afraid there might be danger of taking the dread disease, infantile paralysis. Mrs. H. Watkins and Mrs. Cummons were among the sick. The subject for the Sunday school lesson next Sunday, October 9th, will be "Elijah Hears God's Voice." The golden text: "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart." Psalm 27:14.
"Frost Damage at Reese Creek," Medford Mail Tribune, October 8, 1927, page 3


    District No. 45, Trail, lost only three days of school during the infantile paralysis epidemic. While school has been in session six weeks, with an enrollment of 14 pupils, not a case of tardiness has been recorded. As nearly all the pupils live a mile or more from the school, this record is interesting.
"Trail Parent-Teachers Meet," Medford Mail Tribune, October 25, 1927, page 7

Gold Hill News, October 27, 1927, page 1


    The Debenger Gap school has not reopened since the infantile paralysis scare.
    The Sunday school at Reese Creek is growing since the epidemic scare has subsided. There were more than thirty there last Sunday. We hope soon to have our usual number. There will no doubt be preaching part time any day. The subject for the Sunday school lesson next Sunday will be "Amos Denounces Sin." Golden text, "See good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken." Amos 5:14. Let everyone attend and help build up the Sunday school.
"Rain Welcomed at Reese Creek," Medford Mail Tribune, October 28, 1927, page B1


    Mrs. Marshall Minter has again begun school at Debenger Gap, after a few weeks of enforced vacation because of the infantile paralysis scare.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Cummons and children went to the Mt. Pitt Sunday school last Sunday with Rev. D. D. Randall. He organized a Sunday school there a couple of weeks ago. The Sunday school at Reese Creek is on the upward again, now that the infantile paralysis scare is over, but still there is room for others, so be sure to be there on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.  The subject for the Sunday school lesson next Sunday will be "Amos Pleads for Justice." The golden text, "Let justice run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Amos 6:24.
"Heavy Frosts at Reese Creek," Medford Mail Tribune, November 5, 1927, page 5