Polio In The 1950's

Disease has always plagued humans since the beginning of their existence. It has also changed the course of history, whether it helped win wars, destroy civilizations from the inside, or help move technology ahead.There have been many deadly diseases in the world, and in the United States alone despite its young age compared to the other countries. However, one of the most devastating and important diseases in the United States’ history is Poliomyelitis or Polio for short. The polio epidemic affected lives of people starting in the early twentieth century, but it reached its peak in the 1950’s. Polio made its mark on America’s history both from people with and without Polio, and despite it being cured Polio has changed the United States and

Now it is known that the disease was spread by a spread of contaminated Fecal matter (Rogers p.3). Mostly affecting the infantile population, Polio often caused symptoms stiffness of the neck or back or paralysis (Paul, as cited in Loeb p.18). The Polio epidemic had a higher morbidity rate than mortality because of the disease causing more physical damages to the body. Cases of Polio continued to worsen throughout the 1950’s, and it worsened enough for desperate measures to be taken by the government were put in place. Help would eventually arrive with Jonas Salk, who was able to create the cure in 1953, and by April 1954 he was able to start giving the cure to the people. With the cure out, by 1979 there has not been anyone diagnosed with poliomyelitis

The first being tracheotomy which was a medical procedure used against Bulbar Polio, tracheotomy is an incision in the windpipe made to relieve an obstruction to breathing. It the first procedure against Polio, it was used to prevent choking and other respiratory problems (Miller). It is still a method used in cases such as Subglottic Stenosis, Subglottic Web, Tracheomalacia and more. Another important technological device was the chest respirator, it was used to help the victims of Polios breathing problems. Statistically, five out of ten people suffering from polio would die from lack of muscles helping them breath (Hamborsky). Beyond Polio, the chest respirator can be used for numerous problems that have to do with the respiratory system. While certain devices have been manufactured for Poliomyelitis, the uses of the machines carries