Neuritis, radiculitis, rheumatism, various forms of meningitis, encephalitis and meningo-encephalitis are the disorders that can more easily be confused with poliomyelitis.

PROGNOSIS

One subject of extreme interest, which so far has not been given any importance, is the Paralysis of the abdominal muscles. When the child makes an effort with the abdomen, a great projection the size of a fist forms, contrasting with the healthy side. It is almost always a single side, and this side is in opposition to the paralyzed lower limb (crossed paralysis). We have had the occasion to observe children with abdominal paralysis of both sides, accompanied by paralysis of intestinal peristalsis and paralysis of the bladder muscles. This clinical condition is sometimes amazing, because there is fecal matter and urine retention, that does not have anything to do with the paralysis of both sphincters. In the first days of the onset, it is observed in some patients and then disappears by itself.

Paralyses of the abdominal muscles give the impression of very large hernias; only comparison and study of many similar cases can give us an indication of the true origin.

Digestive disorders are accompanied by paralysis symptoms and this is one of the best means to clarify the diagnosis, since it is known that hernias of the abdominal wall do not bring constant digestion disorders. The pains produced by hernias are very characteristic; on the other hand they help the intestine move, facilitating digestion. Choosing the food, and mainly making the causal treatment (etiologic), that is to say, attacking the infection in the spinal medulla, this is one of the symptoms that quickly disappears.

The degeneration reaction (electrical examination, chronaxie) gives valuable data for the prognosis. When there is contractibility with faradic currents, as weak as it may be, and it persists for some weeks, it is very probable that those muscles will recover all their functions. On the contrary, if there is no contraction to the currents, from the beginning and this lack of contraction persists, there will be no recovery, not even partial, of the affected muscles. Generally, the recovery we are speaking about occurs within the period of 4 or more months; all these improvements are spontaneous, without the intervention of classic medicine.

CLASSICAL TREATMENT OF INFANTILE PARALYSIS  
DURING THE ACUTE PHASE

The last antibiotics already placed within reach of the public, Chloromycetin and Aureomycin, these and all the others are, so far, completely inactive, because they cannot even be called symptomatic medications. Nothing modifies the evolution of this disease favorably.

Case # 1: G.M., Age 14mo., Weight 6.6kg (14.5lbs.), Address 18 Atotonilco Street, was diagnosed April 20th, 1941. She currently lives #21-10 González Bocanegra Street, Col. Mazá, D.F.; she is now 11 years old.

Days 18-20th of April 1941, the mother noticed that the girl had digestive disorders accompanied by pains; she gave her a laxative, less food, and apparently the girl seemed already healthy. But on the 21st., with great alarm, the mother noticed that she did not move the left lower limb; she could not even maintain it in any position, when lying in bed. The mother indicated that it seemed like a "thread." On day 20th, she had a temperature that disappeared on the following day; however, she did not eat nor sleep, and she was very prostrated.

Examination. — Girl emaciated, very pale, weeping, easily frightened; the flaccidity of the left limb is observed, has no cutaneous nor tendinous reflexes in any forms lying down, when raising the afflicted leg, it falls on the bed by its own weight; reflexes and movements in the abdomen and the other leg are normal.

The preceding febrile state, the gastrointestinal disorders, the absolute lack of all types of movements in the same limb, lead us to the diagnosis of infantile paralysis, affecting only the left inferior limb.

On April 22nd, the day after she was diagnosed with infantile paralysis, I gave her the first treatment. I observed later that the plantar reflexes were beginning to appear, and she began to move her toes when someone scratched the sole of her foot.

From the fifth application, the improvement was obvious. At the end of 20 applications, the girl was discharged, because the movements and reflexes returned to normal and she was walking normally. To date, the girl, who is 11 years old, makes all the movements; she remains without any sequela of the disease.

This was the first patient to whom we applied this curative treatment, with the uncertainty of obtaining the healing effects of the medications that were administered to her. As we already saw, it was very valuable that her parents had agreed to submit her to this therapeutic method, because we gave her non-dangerous trials of different medicines. The observation of importance that immediately appeared with these tests, and which is of extraordinary therapeutic importance in general pathology, is that the anatomical and physiological consequences of the virus are very serious, as well as extremely sensitive to the modifications made to the therapeutic methods that were used.

From the first application on this patient, the parents had observed, as previously mentioned, that the girl began to move her toes, a fact that was totally confirmed by careful examination.

 

 

Case # 2: M.E.R., Age 20mo., Weight 12kg (26lbs.), Address 435 Laguna de Términos, Mexico, D.F., she was diagnosed on May 23rd, 1946. She now lives at 6 Lake Caratusta.

On May 16, began with lack of appetite, diarrhea, frightened, with insomnia, some sensation of pain in both legs, because when touched she complained, it was impossible to locate this pain; fever that went up to 39°C (102.2°F), with fluctuations, without dropping to normal, until the 27th of the same month when she displayed these symptoms. That day, the mother was alarmed because the previous day she had noticed that the girl could not sit in bed and wanting to verify, began to observe her. She realized that the left lower limb was twisted outwards and when touched she hurt intensely. She tried to make her stand up and the girl fell, which increased her concern. Still supporting her by the arms she tried to make her walk, but it was impossible. The girl had her whole lower limb hanging; the rest of the body was immovable.

The girl had been vaccinated against the measles, but in spite of this, a month before the infantile paralysis, she had the measles. This disease lasted 8 days and, according to the parents, it was benign. During this month she was apparently healthy.

Doctors Alfonso Angelini and Ramon Terroba, of the Department of Health and Welfare, examined the patient, in their own department, on May 22nd, diagnosing infantile paralysis.

On May 23rd, 1946, we examined her. We found the patient very emaciated, constantly weeping, easily frightened, pale, in her mother’s arms. She fell back when trying to sit her up, the left lower limb falling from gravity. In the position it fell, trying to rotate the foot outwards, flexion or any other position it was put, it stayed that way, without being corrected by the girl. All the muscles were flaccid and limp; she did not have patellar or plantar reflexes.

The M.E.R. girl had acute anterior poliomyelitis, in perfectly curable phase, with the Cellular Therapy treatment.

On the 25th, the first treatment was applied, and on May 30th, the second. On the day following the second treatment, she moved the toes of the afflicted foot. On June 5th, she had her third treatment, after which the patient sat up in bed and began to stand up supported, taking a few steps, helped by her mother. On the 12th, of the same month, she went about the room; she began to walk alone, turning her bad limb outwards. The healing progressed until July 2^nd; the date the patient completed her 7 treatments. This same day the mother showed me how the young one already was walking alone. She ran, and her lower limb did not deviate on either side.

She received three more applications to have a safety margin in her radical treatment.

It took One Month and Eight Days to cure her, leaving no traces. The total confirmation of the cure had been observed in this patient, because 5 years have passed and all her functions are normal, without the so-called sequelae of poliomyelitis being observed.

 

 

Case #3: On March 26th, 1949, appeared in his mother’s arms the young S.D.R., 2 years old and weighing 10kg (22lbs.).

The boy had diarrhea for 15 days with a fever of 38°C (100.4°F). This situation lasted five days. After this lapse of time, the boy tried to get out of bed but as he turned around, he fell to the ground. Alarmed, the parents picked him up and tried to stand him up, because, according to them, since the fever and the diarrhea had disappeared, he was healthy. But they realized that he could not move the legs, which were hanging from the body without any movement. On the following day they also noticed that the arms did not move, and so on. They observed that he could not maintain his head in any position, either, not even lying down, because even so, it was necessary to use pillows to give him a stable position. Just like the legs, it seemed that the head was suspended on the body. A few days later, they observed, “he was bloated.” He could not evacuate the intestine, nor break wind, and almost along with these symptoms he no longer could pass water nor foods. He did not complain and could not breathe, this last symptom increasing because he was breathing with much difficulty. All this condition developed in the course of 8 days, from the onset of the paralysis of the limbs. The private doctors, as well as those from the Children’s Hospital of Mexico, made the diagnosis of poliomyelitis of bulbar form. For two weeks they applied hot towels to him, and they immobilized him.

My examination was done with the child in the arms of the mother, because all movements caused him pains; extremely debilitated, prostrated, of serious aspect, breathing with difficulty, and when he tried to cry, he did so with difficulty. He had been fed with liquids because of the difficulty he had swallowing.

Although he tried to seat or to raise his head, he was not able to sustain it, or to stay seated; his whole body fell back. There were no abdominal reflexes and the abdomen was distended with gas. He had no patellar, plantar, or cremasteric reflexes. The legs were suspended from the rest of the body without movement, like the legs of a typical puppet. This examination caused him intense pain, but he cried with much difficulty, because his breathing was slow and heavy.

In view of the gravity, and not having much confidence in his survival, we obtained the approval of the parents, who were doing everything possible to save him, although it could cause his death, we proceeded to apply a Cellular Therapy treatment to the boy.

Without the preliminary preparation customary for this treatment, due to the gravity, the boy received the following medications intramuscularly: 15 Units of insulin, with 200,000 Units of crystallized penicillin and vitamins B complex, according to his weight of 10kg (22lbs.). Thirty minutes later, when the hypoglycemic symptoms had reached their peak, he received the following intravenously.

In the first syringe:

• Acriflavine hydrochloride 10mg,
• Methylene blue 1mg,
• Resorcinol 1mg
in 50% glucose solution.

In the second syringe, he received:

• Calcium bromide 7mg,
• Calcium gluconate 20mg,
• Calcium formate 10mg,
• Magnesium gluconate 10mg,
• Piperazine iodide 10mg,
in 50% glucose solution.

Five days later, the treatment was repeated, and the bulbar symptoms, which had already distinctly improved with the first treatment, disappeared. He could now cry, breathe with complete ease, and pass all foods normally. The third treatment was 8 days later, and applied every 8 days thereafter, as customary in all cases.

After 23 treatments, the boy was discharged, completely cured, meaning that at the present time he does not have any stigma or sequela, which this disease normally leaves in these serious cases. We should note that during the treatment period he had some intercurrent diseases: acute dysentery-type colitis, and acute bronchitis complicated with bronchopneumonia, which caused this treatment to be modified and temporarily suspended. This is why it took longer to get well.

 

 

Case #4: Last October 11th, the patient, C.C., Age 3, Weight 10kg (22lbs.), was presented by his parents.

The parents reported that the boy had a bout of "flu" for 5 days, after which the boy wanted to stand up and he could not. Then they took him to meet some pediatricians, who diagnosed infantile paralysis. And on September 24th, to confirm the diagnosis, the cerebrospinal fluid was extracted. Immediately after this, the boy was disabled, and unable to turn around in bed, move his arms, rise his head, cough, or cry, and remained in his bed motionless.

On October 11th of the same year the following was found: no movements in the head, upper and lower limbs. The abdominal, cremasteric, patellar, and plantar reflexes were totally absent; the boy was observed with abdomen completely distended with gas.

Because of the gravity of the case and because 18 days had passed since the onset of paralysis, the parents were told that all treatment attempts would be useless, although some improvement would be obtained, because some are always observed. But they were poor, and they came from Torreon, Coah., and the degree of improvement would not correspond with the hardship and expenses they were going to undergo. The parents resolved to provide for everything as long as their son was subjected to the treatment.

On October 12th, 18 days after the onset of paralysis, the treatment began. According to what had been previously established, the following was injected to the boy:

In the first syringe:

• Acriflavine hydrochloride 20mg;
• Methylene blue 2mg,
• Resorcinol 2mg,
in 50% glucose solution.

In the second syringe:

• Calcium bromide 7mg,
• Calcium gluconate 20mg,
• Calcium formate 10mg,
• Magnesium gluconate 10mg,
• Piperazine iodide 10mg,
in 50% glucose solution.

The improvement began, from the first applications, in descending order, that is to say, from head to feet; these were the last ones to heal. He became healthy in 7 months and 10 days, having applied 31 treatments. Did not have any of the sequelae of the disease already indicated.

 

 

Case #5: G.C., Female, Age 17mo., Weight 8kg (17.5lbs.), with address in Necaxa, Puebla; was diagnosed on February 27th, 1943.

She began with flu symptoms, but later the doctors who saw her in Necaxa diagnosed an intestinal disorder that quickly yielded to administered medications. Resigned, the days passed, and at the end of one week, the parents observed that the girl, lying down in her bed, could not move the left leg, no movement was executed, her leg was completely limp. In a few more days the affected limb began to become emaciated, and from this immobilization the "odyssey" with the doctors, and the "disappointment" of the parents began: the disease was Infantile Paralysis.

Recommended by the relatives of the boy Regino Vargas, from Huauchinango, Puebla, who had the same disorder, the parents appeared on the date noted above.

The girl had inequality in the muscular development of the lower limbs, the left one remarkably more emaciated than the other. It seemed suspended from the hip when the parents tried to make her stand up. She did not have any reflexes; the muscles felt very flaccid, and the whole limb fell when we tried to lift it. Definitely, young G.C. had Infantile Paralysis that affected only the left lower limb.

Nine treatments were applied to her, observing improvement progressively from the first.

Last year the parents of the girl who had been diagnosed came in. Slight limping in the affected left limb was noted. During the month of July 1949, at the age of 7 and half, at the request of the parents, she came to get 4 more treatments, thinking that her condition would not change. We had a surprise when we noticed that her limping had diminished so much, that now it is very difficult to observe that this limb was so seriously afflicted.

 

 

Case # 6: A.Z., Male, Age 19mo., Weight 9kg (20lbs.), Address 9 Emiliano Street, Eguala, Gro. On January 31th, 1944, appeared in the clinic, the parents giving the following data:

About a month ago the boy lost his appetite, and sleep, and was feverish. With the use of homemade medicines that state disappeared, lasting about 15 days. About 10 days before bringing him to the clinic, the boy began "to hobble", throwing the leg outwards, to end up by not being able to remain standing up. The upper limb of the same side also began to exhibit weakness and some convulsions when he tried to make some effort.

The family reported that two months before presenting this condition, he suffered the sting of a scorpion; he was foaming at the mouth as the only symptom and after a high enema, he was healthy.

The patient was presented in his mother’s arms, very emaciated, weeping continuously, from fear of the doctors.

Pathological signs found: no tendinous or cutaneous reflexes in the entire left lower limb; in the supine position he could not make any moves, organized or spontaneous. He could only stand for a few seconds, falling in attempting to do that. The whole limb was flaccid and muscularly emaciated. The left upper limb was also somewhat emaciated and had difficulty executing requested movements. The other organs and systems appeared normal to physical examination. He did not have any luetic antecedents in his ancestors, or pathological antecedents of any other inclination.

The doctors who examined him, as well in the city of Iguala, Gro., as in this capital, diagnosed infantile paralysis.

On February 1st, prior to the customary preparation, was made the first application of the system of the Change of the Blood Properties. On the 18th of the same month, he received the second session, and on the 28th the third. As is customary after the first and second sessions, the mother was asked how the young one was coming along, and as she answered that he was much better, we did not pay any attention to her answer. When she came back for the third application, following the custom, we asked her again how was the patient and she said that his father no longer wanted him to come for more treatments, because since he was walking well, he thought that he was already healthy. To which I responded: “How can you believe, madam, that with two treatments he is cured of a disease considered incurable?” — “But doctor look” —answered the lady—, and at the same time she lowered the boy from her arms and, withdrawing from him, she told him to run... Observing the boy, who was already positively running, without showing the smallest sign of disease, caused amazement.

On March 13th and 23rd, he received the last two applications. He was discharged because he was cured, and in addition to all the physiological movements, no muscular atrophy was observed. To date, 1953, the boy is 11 years old and, according to the parents, he has been the healthiest and the strongest of the family.

In fact, with three applications he was cured, but we gave him two more, to guarantee his cure.

 

 

Case # 7: On August 29, 1949, V.V.B., Female, Age 12mo., Weight 10kg (22lbs.), lives 334 Pichachi Street, was presented by her parents.

In the last 9 days she woke up with a high fever; underwent the customary homemade treatments, with no favorable results, she was taken to the Spanish Sanatorium and examined by Dr. Oaks and another one, who diagnosed infantile paralysis. She was sent to the Children’s Hospital, as mandated and was examined by some doctors, who also diagnosed polio.

She was in a state of high prostration. When she tried to move, she was frightened, and cried. The abdomen was very distended with gas. She could not move the whole left upper limb, or the fingers. She had no tendinous reflexes. There were no abdominal reflexes on the other side. She could not sit, because in addition to the pain it caused her, the whole thorax caved in. She could not move the right lower limb and all the reflexes, including plantar and patellar, were missing. The examination caused her intense pains. During the first days she had urine retention, which spontaneously disappeared. She vomited during the first two days.

On the 30th, we began the application of the Cellular Therapy treatment. The day following this first treatment, the girl could sit in bed and support herself. After the second application, she began to move her arm, and after the third, she moved her leg. After the fifth, she began to stand up with assistance or supported. After the sixth, she began to walk with support. After 22 applications, she was discharged in complete state of health.

It is very important to observe in this patient the therapeutic regimen, since, in addition to customary medications, no antiseptics were directly administered:

• 4–oxy–3–acetylamino–3’–glucosamine–4’–oxyacetate

of sodium arsenobenzene 10g,

• glucose 10g,

• bidistilled water 100cc,

of this solution 1cc in 10cc of 50% glucose solution, applied intravenously in the first syringe; in the second syringe the formula already mentioned containing also iodide salts, magnesiocalcium and vitamins, in the doses already mentioned.

Intramuscularly

• 6–sulfanilamide–2.4–dimethylpyrimidine 500mg;

• Crystallized penicillin 150,000 Units

• Dihydrostreptomycin 200mg.

She received 10 applications. Then the injection of sulfas was suspended and penicillin was increased to 200,000 Units. This therapeutic regimen was continued until the patient was cured.

In this patient, like in all the patients, the curative progress was observed step by step, at the time of each application. In general, on the second day after the application, the progress and improvement are very obvious, although there is always a very favorable change in all the symptoms noted as of the very day of the application.

The girl is now three and some years old and she is in an enviable state of health.

 

 

Case # 8: The boy A.E., Age 20 mo., Weight 14kg (31lbs.), lives at 76 Prosperity Street, of this city, and on November 24, 1949, was examined.

During fifteen days he had diarrhea and fever of 39°C (102.2°F), and after this lapse he was constipated and the fever disappeared. But before the disappearance of these symptoms he already had intense lumbar pain and pain in both lower limbs. At the same time, the parents observed that he could not stand up, nor move both above mentioned limbs.

All the movements attempted during the examination caused him pain. He did not have patellar or plantar reflexes of the left side, and in the right lower limb he had hyperreflexia. He could not sit or stand up. The previous diagnosis of the first doctors who examined him was acute poliomyelitis.

This is a classic case of acute poliomyelitis where over 15 days have already gone by. In spite of all this time, only three applications of this therapy were necessary to discharge him, for the physiological reestablishment of all his functions. It must be noted that in addition to the 1cc dose of arsenic of the intravenous solution mentioned in Clinical History Case # 5, 1g of the same sulfa was applied intramuscularly. It took 14 days to cure him.

We have continued to examine him, and his state of physical and mental health is enviable.

 

 

Case # 9: A.T., Age 12mo., Weight 11kg (24lbs.), lives at 114 Black Rose St., Mixcoac, D.F., was diagnosed on June 8, 1951.

During 3 days from May 21st, he had a fever. Later, he no longer moved the left lower limb. He was very nervous, easily frightened, did not sleep, and was very pale. He was taken to the Children’s Hospital where they made the diagnosis of poliomyelitis.

Upon examination, the boy was weeping and frightened. The examination was difficult because of the fear it caused him. It was not possible to make him raise the left upper limb; nevertheless he moved his fingers well. He could not raise the arm. He had paralysis of the deltoids muscle. He had no patellar reflexes. He had plantar hyperreflexia on the same side, from what could be seen. He had the muscles of the thigh on that side paralyzed, and slightly those of the leg and foot. He presented crossed infantile paralysis.

His treatment began after more than 15 days from the onset of paralysis. Only 6 applications were necessary to obtain his complete recovery.

Having received him during the subacute period of the disease 25mg of propionate of testosterone were applied to him in each session, and in the last two, antibiotics were substituted (penicillin and dihydrostreptomycin), with sodium salt of phenylphosphinous dimethyl-aminomethyl acid... 20mg simultaneously in chloride and glucose solution, intramuscularly.