PROBLEMS IN POLIOMYELITIS

To the Editor:  —One cannot but be amazed at the complacent assurance with which Dr. Draper, in his article "Significant Problems in Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis" in The Journal, October 17, sums up that "a preataxic tremor stage diagnosis of poliomyelitis can and should be made."Despite the fact that the general systemic infection period does not offer any hint whatever of a subsequent poliomyelitic, or any other, development; despite the fact that the latent period, as in a case now in my wards, may be as long as six days; notwithstanding that the "passage period" may be limited to a couple of hours, we are told that "having these facts at our disposal, one should be able to prevent paralysis."Furthermore, while "it has been definitely shown that immune human serum can block paralysis in monkeys infected with poliomyelitis virus," there is still inadequate proof that immune serum has prevented