[Picture of a man hanging a bottomless screen box to a ceiling]
Inspector Williams hangs fly trap to ceiling in building where insects are numerous as part of study.
Shelburne, Sept. 10 (Special). - An attempt to track down the source of poliomyelitis is being made by the Dufferin County Health Unit, which is co-operating with the Hospital for Sick Children. The program is financially supported by the life insurance companies through a grant made by the health commit- tee of the Canadian Life Insurance Officers' Association.
Harry Williams, sanitary engineer for the health unit, and Dr. F. H. Wilson, MOH, are taking active parts in the study, which embraces the entire county.
"We are placing fly traps and taking samples of sewage at fixed spots," Mr. Williams said. "These samples are sent to Connaught Laboratories, where they are tested for presence of the polio virus. We understand that it is possible that some humans can be polio carriers, just as some are TB carriers. In case of a polio outbreak in the county, with the help of the records established we should be able to trace back and locate the source of the outbreak."
"We are co-operating to the full- est extent in the furtherance of this important research work," Dr. Wilson said.
All residents of Dufferin County are asked to communicate immediately with their family physician if they notice any symptoms of polio among their children.
The announcement that the Dufferin County Health Unit would co- operate in the survey was made early in the season in Toronto by Dr. Nelles Silverthorne of the hospital staff, under whose direction the study is well into its second year.
It is emphasized that the county program involves no new technique, but consists of straight research in an effort to find a means of attacking the disease.