This month’s selection of the book discussion group I
attend was Polio: An American Story. When I first saw the title I thought it
was not a book I would particularly enjoy, but boy, was I wrong.
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| Credit: David M. Oshinsky |
It was an engaging read and hard to put down once I started.
Having lived through the yearly polio epidemics of the mid- to late 1950s, I
recall so well admonitions to stay out of the mid-day summer heat, stay clean and avoid
swimming pools. I have such a vivid memory of being herded into the school
auditorium and lining up to be given the sugar cube that contained the vaccine.
I learned many things I didn’t know about polio, such as the
furious rivalry between Salk and Sabin to find a cure. The book also gives an insightful
look at the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which was founded in
the 1930s by Franklin D. Roosevelt – himself a polio victim and later President
of the U.S. – and his law partner Basil O'Connor.
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| I actually remember seeing a duplicate of this this poster in my school back then. Credit: wikimedia
In baby-booming America--increasingly suburban,
family-oriented, and hygiene-obsessed--the specter of polio, like the specter
of the atomic bomb, was a cloud of terror over daily life.
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Oshinsky states that polio was never the raging epidemic
portrayed by the media, but in truth a relatively uncommon disease. I do not agree with this statement, however. Thousands of children came down with polio each summer,
and many suffer its after affects to this day. Many children died.
Once a successful vaccine was found and the disease eradicated, research on the disease pretty much ceased, thereby leaving many unanswered questions such as why were more boys than girls affected? why did it occur mostly during hot summer months? why were children and young adults more susceptible?
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| Iron lungs provided temporary, or sometimes permanent breathing support for polio victims. Credit: Smithsonian magazine |
In addition to a gripping scientific story, the book
provides a provocative social and cultural history of postwar America. I highly
recommend this book, which was the 2006 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Best History
Book.
Polio exists in only four countries today: Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and India.
Polio exists in only four countries today: Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and India.
I think I would find this book very interesting too, Sanda. Both my husband and father suffered polio in the early 1950s epidemic, so it is a subject I am quite familiar with. I remember some of that time, the early vaccination programmes, and the general fear in the community. And I agree with you that it was not all that rare. I lived in a small town, and there were numerous cases about, including a girl in my class. My Dad in those days worked as an ambulance officer (paramedic) and caught the disease from a patient. He was about 30 years old, and it was in his throat, which is a little bit paralysed to this day. My husband caught it age 2, affecting one leg, which is as they are after polio - and he wears a caliper and boot. It causes 'fun' at airport security :) I'm off to track down that book.
ReplyDeletePatricia, I imagine you will really enjoy the book, especially since you have first-hand experiences with polio. Another thing researchers never found out is why certain communities were hit and others escaped. Sorry to hear how the disease affected your loved ones.
DeleteSounds interesting. I remember my very young daughters getting the vaccine at the local school house. There was a lot of hub-bub about it, some people against it must most for. There was also talk about there perhaps not being enough vaccine so people who wanted it were rushing to get it and there were big lines.
ReplyDeletePatricia, so sorry to hear it effected your family.
Darla
Yes....I remember it well. Can you imagine my mother who did not go to doctors and did not believe in vaccines having to make a decision for me to take that sugar pill or not or get the vaccine. That had to be sooo scary to make that decision one way or another. I think she decided to give me the vaccine. I remember she would not let me go swimming at the park. It is just a hazy memory for me now but I know at the time it was very REAL!!!
DeleteDarla, the vaccine was first administered with a needle (Salk vaccine). Then they switched to the Sabin-developed vaccine (oral via sugar cube) and have now switched back to the needle injection.
DeleteAngele Style: Welcome back! I have missed you. Oh dear, I realize that some are fearful of vaccines but I do hope you received it.
thank you for this book review Sanda,I probably would not have thought of this topic as one I would have wanted to read but after your description I do want to know more...it is great when a disease is eradicated..
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the book, I continued to learn more by the internet and found out some additional facts. It's a fascinating look inside the entire polio story, not the least of which is the politics inside the world of medical research.
DeleteI have learned so much about polio from your reading this book. I remember the scare so well. I noticed two of your followers also mentioned the vaccination which I remember. Also remember the little girl poster so well. Also remember Mother not letting us go outside in heat of day. Very informative post and so happy for the vaccine.
ReplyDeleteHa. It's great that we discuss what we're reading with each other! I'm assuming children still get the vaccine? Not sure, but I'll have to ask Pat/Jen if polio was included in the vaccines she received this week!
DeleteSome cases of polio have recently been found in Syria too.
ReplyDeleteWhat´s great, is that in the future, type 1 diabetes can be prevented by a vaccination too!!
The countries where the disease hasn't been conquered is due to groups like the Taliban sabotaging vaccination efforts. A type 1 diabetes vaccination is a real breakthrough.
DeleteYes, I remember the sugar cube day, too. It was one of the few times my Dad walked me to school, he was so excited about this new vaccine. Sugar was considered 'bad' in our home, but he was explaining how we could make an exception in this case! Sounds like a book I would enjoy. You might also like Laurie Garrett's The Coming Plague - it explains a lot of diseases. It's a bit over dramatic, but for the most part I think it is factually correct.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an interesting book and I'll have to check on it. Oh, you were lucky not to be given sugar as a child so you likely don't even crave it now. Have a great week, Shelley.
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