1. Twenty seven consecutive cases of preparalytic
infantile paralysis (36.4% of the total admissions) treated with non-specific
protein (intramuscular sterile milk), intravenous 50%
sucrose and
dehydration (restricted intake) are herein reported. There was no
paralysis nor mortality in this group. One case developed weakness, which subsequently disappeared entirely before hospital discharge. During a simultaneous period, 47 cases (63.6%) were admitted with either weakness or
paralysis. 2. The early administration of this
therapy is advocated. 3. The
therapy was used in cases presenting
muscular weakness and
paralysis upon hospital admission with apparent arrest of the process sooner than is usually expected. A rapid recovery was striking in many instances. This was particularly true in the group admitted with weakness only. 73% of these recovered completely and the remaining 27% were improved. In the paralytic group
ganglion cell destruction had often completed before hospital admission. In these cases the results would be disappointing with any
therapy. 4. Of the 47 cases admitted in the stage of weakness or
paralysis, including the bulbar cases, twelve (25.5%) recovered completely, 17 (36.1%) definitely improved, 16 (34%) were unimproved and 2 (4.2%) died. In the entire group (74 cases) there was a mortality of 2.7%, complete recovery in 52.7%, improvement 22.9% and no improvement in 21.6%. 5. Aside from
poliomyelitis, we have used the
therapy in primary and secondary
encephalitis with gratifying results in most cases, which, however, were few in number. 6. Further study on a larger scale would be advantageous in evaluating this
therapy, both in
poliomyelitis and
encephalitis.