New Concepts of Poliomyelitis

The Changing Outlook in Poliomyelitis

“…The question is whether the viraemia is merely a casual event arising from an overflow of virus from the intestine, or if small amounts enter the blood leading to a secondary phase of multiplication in organs such as the lymph nodes and spleen. Evidence in support of this latter hypothesis has been reviewed (Meenan, 1953) including the fact that in poliomyelitis the most severe histological lesions outside the central nervous system are found in lymphoid tissue. A secondary “ vascular ” phase of multiplication would explain, in the most simple manner, the antibody response to infection and the epidemiological picture and, indeed, we might go so far as to say that it is necessary to explain it.…”

“…In 1952 Horstmann and Bodian, working independently, both reported the regular occurrence of poliomyelitis virus in the blood stream of cynomolgus monkeys and of chimpanzees after infection by a variety of routes. Writing of this evidence only a few months ago it was still possible to ask if a viraemia occurred in man and if the pathogenesis of the disease in man and in chimpanzee was the same (Meenan, 1953).…”

“…The weapons, too, are becoming more readily available and more and more laboratories are finding it possible to include poliomyelitis in their programmes. In a recent paper (Meenan, 1953) it was stated that “… we may confidently look forward to an era in which man and virus may yet again live happily together, and in which the only apparent complication of infection—paralysis—may be controlled ”. Events since then have heightened this confidence, and although we cannot expect the problems of nearly fifty years to be solved overnight, it does seem that the terrifying epidemics of late years may soon be but a memory.…”