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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 1955)
o TWELVE MEDFCUD (OREGON) If AIL 'TVOTVt Mufet' $emvf t, ISM f Fight Against Polio Moved Ahead During '54 With Vaccine Promisi 0The polio fight moved ahead to fa climactic phase in 1954 With more and more patients re quiring costlier care a new chal lenge polio prevention be- ; gan at last to crystallize into the nromise of eventual freedom " from "polio's crippling threat. It was a year of historic prog ress, of unprecedented gains, of bright new hope. But its legacy, too, was unprecendented: It left Americans facing a bigger job than ever in the year ahead. CThird Worst Year 9 With 37,771 cases reported through its 48th week, 1954 emerges as the third worst polio year of record. It was exceeded only by the high of 57,879 cases set in 1952, and by 1949's second highest mark of042,033 cases. At 0 year's end it had become the seventh straight year of high cpolio incidence. Average rate for the continental U. S. through 3 1954's 48th week was 23.5 cases per 100,000 population. o As usual, the disease struck m without rhyme, reason or dis cernible pattern. Since 1938, when the National Foundation for Infantile Paraly sis came into being, an increas ing proportion of polio victims have survived the attack. In 1938-41, eleven per cent of all reported cases died. The latest o four-year study shows 5.4 per o cent of reportecP cases were G killed by the disease. But polio was striking more adults who usualfy are seriously O 0 9o affected. This has3 been a steady trend in recent years. In 1944 48, only 15 per cnt of all polio victims were 20 years of age or . older. Th most recent figure had reached 22 per cent. Remains Child Killer And polio remained a child killer, too. According to U. S. Public Health Service figures, poliomyelitis in major epidemic -years still killed more of our "five to 14-year-olds than any other communicable disease. Let 1954 saw giant steps taken ' toward he possible elimination of paralytic polio. In 1954 gamma globulin, field tested in 1951 and 1952 under theaegis of the National Foun dation, was provided with March of Dimes funds to health offi cers. It was available in larger amounts for use against polio. ' Afe rjest, GG was a shaky bridge between deferfee and attack. Ad- . ministered at the proper time. C it caUld give protection for five to aout eight weeks. By Octob er, this temporary preventive " was (plentiful enough to become available through usual commer cial channels. In the spring of the year, came the "shot h I a r d 'round the world:' On April 26, six-year-old Randy Kerr of Fairfax County, Vasp became the first child to o participate in nationwide field trials ofca new vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas E. Salk of the Uni versity of Pittsburgh. Own Protective Antibodies Backed by March of Dimes funds, Dr. Salk and other scient ists for years had worked to find a vaccine different from GG in that it could stimulate the body to make its own pro- tective antibodies in the blood stream, possibly providing a de gree fo permanent protection from the disease. Gamma globu lin, Mth its "borrowed" anti bodies, never was expected to achieve this. Dr. Salk had pre tested the trial vaccine in the Pittsburgh area. He knew it 'was safe. He asked the National . Foundation to find out now if it prevented polio paralysis. 1954'so dramatic vaccine field trials were the biggest operation ot its k d ever projected: 650,000 children .trooped to special? cinics in 217 trial areas throughout the United States for three" "s h o ts" each. Of these, 440,000 actually received the vaccine; the rest got ineffective 'ummy shots. In "all, some 1,830,000 of them acting as un injected controls for comparison purposes. Evaluation of results of the trials now is under way. A task Gof 120 statisticians and techni cians under the direction of Dr. Thomas irancis Jr. is sifting the millions of facts that are pouring in frorn test areas to the Polio myelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center at the University of Mich igan. Reports from doctors, phy sical therapists, health officers and bloqd analysis laboratories are flowing in to Ann Arbor in one of? history's .most complex scientific undertakiggs. Answer in Spring An answer is exepcted by the spring' of 1955. Results, it is hoped, will established whether theOvaccine prevents paralytic polio. In the meantime, however, the National Foundation for In fantile Paralysis is taking a cal culated financial risk: $9,000,000 of the $64,000,000 the March of Dimgs hopes to raise in 1955 are committed for the purchase of a standby supply of the vaccine. If it is found effective the vac cine must be licensed by the laboratory ofQBiologics Control of the National Foundation's ad vance purchase achieved two ends: It kejpt manufacturers tooled up and staffed for high- geared production when, results are known rd it assured enough vaccine for 9fi-0Q,QQ children, ready for instant use in advance of the polio ssas.an. Additional through usual eo.mmerei.al channels. If and when the go-ahead comes, the National Foundation plans to make its supply avail able, without charge for the pro duct, to all first and second graders in public, private and parochial schools in the United States, plus all children through the fourth grade in the 1954 trial areas. Public health authorities, medical and health groups were making plans for its administra tion as 1954 drew to a close. But there was little hope of actually eliminating paralytic polio during 1955, even with a licensed vaccine available. Fore casters predicted that possibly 18,000,000 persons might recetve its protection next spring. There are approximately 48,000,000 children below the age of 15 in the U.S. so new cgses must be expected. And there remain many thousands of polio patients stricken in past years who will still need .help. 74,000 Parents Aided In 1954 the National Founda tion provided financial aid to 74,000 patients. Of these, 50,000 were carried over from previous years; 24,009 were new eases. At the end of the year there were 70,0'00 still on its chapter's rolls mere than in any pre vious year. This reflected polio's mounting incidence. But it also showed that more than ever was being done for . polio sufferers During the year the National Foundation spent S2,800,&00 in direct aid to patients, through its chapters. The 1954 bill for the gamma globulin and vaceine programs eame to is,iw,auy Scientific research continued at a cost of $2,7&0,OO0 more. Pro fessional education used $3,100,00 to help train doctors nurses, physical therapists and others for polio care and re search work. Five hundred and eighty-on scholarships and fel lowships were awarded by the National Foundation in 19o4. Four new regional respirator centers (in Nashville, New York City, Cleveland and San Fran cisco) were established in 1954 bringing the total of these pilot plants to 13. Equipment shipped through the 48th week included 1,763 respirators, 209 hot pack machines, 561 rocking beds. The year ended on a note of both hope and warning. The two-fold responsibility ahead patient care and polio preven tion left the. nation facing a bigger, polio job thanoever. On The Side 'y ' v ". (Distributed by King Features Svadieate, Inc.) There is to be a play based on Polly Adler's monumental work titled "A House Is Not a Home." So it is announced. It is just about 50 years ago that George Bernard Shaw's play "Mrs. War ren's Profession" was presented in New York with Mary Shaw and Arnold Daly in the leading roles. It was closed by the po lice after one performance and the producer and members of the cast placed under arrest. Lucky Names Numerologists claim that it is lucky to have the same number of letters in the Christian fiame as the surname. As for examples, Greta Garbo, Hirsch Jacobs, Theodore Atkinson, Paul Muni and Bette Davis. It makes no difference, according to the nu merologists whether it is the name your papa and mamma gave you or one you assumed. That is, you can change your name for luck. I could change mine to Vincent Durling. That would give me seven letters in each name and, besides, I would get rid of that Edgar. Horses and Women Women continue to moan about the tragedy of having a sudden run in a stocking. You see otherwise smartly attired women with runs in their stock ings and sorrowful embarrassed looks on their faces. What makes so many females so stubborn? Why don't they go for that "pair and a spare" idea of selling ny lons? Then they could carry a spare stocking in their handbag. Certainly would be more practi cal to carry something like that in a.handbag than the ridiculous variety of junk the average fe males cart around in that recep tacle. Amone the Married A Detroit bride had her eight sisters as her bridesmaids. Must have been an . interesting wed ding ceremony. However, my sympathy is extended to t he groom. Think of having eight sisters-in-law! Research on life among the .married indicates that sisters-in-law inspire almost as much dissension in the life of a married couple as mothers in-law. . ' " Asking Queries from clients. Q. Who introduced the popular song ti tled "April Showers"? A. Harry Fox, the brilliant and versatile partner of the Dolly Sisters. Harry also introduced "I'm For ever Blowing Bubbles." and I'm Always Chasing Rain bows." Q. I claim the harness horse film, "Home in Indiana," was actually -filmed in Ken tucky. Right? Q. Quite right, sir. It was filmed at Walnut Hall Farm, Lexington, Ky. Q. Was R. L.' Stevenson?s horror tale, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," based on a series of events that actually happened? A. It is believed Ste venson's inspiration for the tale you mention came from the life of Dr. William Brodie, an Edin burgh church deacon, who lived good life by day and an evil one after dark. The police final ly caught up with Brodie and he was hanged for his crimes. Asides During World War IT the WACs called the women marines "Jungle Juliets" but I don't know why. . . . Chicago restau rateur claims to have originated "Little Thin Pancakes." My be lief is that this type of pancakes originated in the celebrated Sa- cher restaurant in Vienna, Aus tria. Sidelights Manhattan taxi driver , says the worst tippers are profession al baseball players and "all Southerners." . . . "Love," said Voltaire, "is the strongest of all passions because it attracts at once, the head, the heart and the body." . ; . Does your young son ask you innumerable ques tions? That's a good sign. It was Dr. Samuel Johnson, who said, "Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain charac teristics of a vigorous intellect." . . . Do you consider yourself well informed as to the Bible? If so, quickly quote the Fifth and Sixth Commandents, and what is the Third Commandment? NON-PROFIT FOOD Pasadena, Calif. (U.R) A scientifically prepared, h i g h- protem food developed at the California Institute of Technol ogy is reported to have been sav ing lives in countries hit by typhoons, floods, wars or other tragedy. More than 35,000,000 of the three-cent meals have been distributed in Okinawa, Japan, Korea and India alone, according to the Meals for Mil lions Foundation, a non-profit group has shipped the "multi purpose food" to' more than 100 countries to date. Fort Wayne, Ind. (U.R) A Fort Wayne man who collects $2 bills for good luck, pawned his collection. He got $25 for the $44 collateral. For Simple Headache Colds' Aches Pains And Feverishness Muscular 200 Tablets 79C (J0fiM 100 Tablets 4JC I . tma.T ' ; 12 Tablets IOC A Hntf Product V3 IB W v m i .. i i Tn Vow may pply here even if yew have a loon Isewhere- Quick, friendly service always. Highest lean values. . . Pay ments te fit year budget and pay days. Qom In er phone newl or more ON YOUR SIGNATURE V AUTOMOBILE ' -t FURNITURE Piregomi IFoDiiainice 45 SOUTH CENTRAL PHONE 2-4433 Your Home Owned and Managed Company Established In 1928 Lie. S-211 M-217 Loans over $500 made by Medford Industrial Loan Co. under same management. f it iflLi iSM gHOWlSTQ $CKED-tTLiE13 Tfee reeving ptetuk SSias Mis Jjrill be mm ef live fi&ms sfowa "Wednesday t the CfataF&n heater for ckrew esruty farmers a-nd their istmilies w a pari ef the Joha D&eFe day teeing sm&8ee& by 7mm Wray b4 Mubfear aVWray company. Tfre pr egjaaa will start 4 1 g.Vfi Tlae-ye 9 a ektaf fer tickato. Dasauez Install As 20-30 Leader Eterrall Basques was installiBi president of Mediord S0-33 elub during- a dinner Etee. it at Kim'a restaurant. The . dinner was is observance of ladies' night. Pat Greene vk installed viee president and Alva Re$, serjeant-at-arms. Dick Tract k re tiring president. The organization is planning for the presentation here f Kay brothers indoor eircus at Me4 for4 high school Jan. 27. Both afternoon and evening perfor mances are to be given. Proceeds will go for eharitabls vorfe in the Rogue Tallay. f soi trrejf if Portland U.l) A 19-y ear eld Pwrtlaad youth was being held in jail nere today at the request ei Ms mother after he allegedly threatened members of his family vita .ftg caliber piitoi. Patrick G. O'firien was charg ed with assault-with a danger ous weapo and held in lieu of $3000 bail. He was arrested Saturday night after his mother, Mrs. Naney A. .O'Brien, told po lice he was h&aating that he in tended "to shoot a cop." Police said the youth was car rying the pistol at the time of Corvallis Scientist Slated To Receive 100,000 in Titanium Industry Payment Corvallis, Ore. 1.R) An lm- ent royalties from America's migrant scientist whose success'. $300,000,000 titanium industry. story has been one of "riches to rags" instead of ,the usual pat tern is finally beginning to pay 'ff. D. "William J. Kroll, 65, who invented ,the process for mass production of titanium, a metal vital in the manufacture of jet aircraft, expects the postman to bring hi ma check for $100,000 any day now. Croll is not exactly destitute. He lives in modest but comfort able circumstances here in a home he built and owns. IKit he has been fighting in eourt for six years to obtain pat- Education Use for Tidelands Funds Eyed Washington (U.R) Sen. Lis ter Hill (D-Ala.) will push for passage in the new Congress of his bill to spend federal income from off-shore oil lands on the nation's schools and colleges. Hill also said he will intro duce legislation calling for an "emergency" school construc tion program and four health proposals, including one to ex tend voluntary health insurance to the aged, jobless and poor. Hill is slated to take over the chairmanship of the Senate La bor and Public Welfare Com mittee when the Democratic controlled 84th Congress con venes Wednesday. That commit tee would normally consider the bills he proposes to offer. his arrest, but that loaded. it was not "I've worked for 12 years like a beast but I'm poorer now than when I hit the shores of the United States," Kroll said. $100,000 Not Enough A federal court ruled recently he should receive one half of one per cent of the. retail price of titanium produced by his pro cess. America manufactures about 5,000 tons &t titanium a year. By 1957 production is expected to reach 35,000 tons. The strong light, heat-resistant metal sells for about $4.50 a pound. Kroll said the $100,000 he will receive soon in retroactive royalties will not begin to cover the amount he has spent in liti gation to clear his claim. He had to sell his three story laboratory in Luxembourg to help make living expenses. Patents Seised His patent rights were seized by the alien property custodian when he entered the United States in 1940, fleeing his native Luxembourg to avoid working for Hitler. He had perfected his titanium process while working for a German firm. The royalty dispute centered over whether the patent rights belonged to Kroll or the German organization that employed him. Many records pertaining to the case had been distroyed. Although Kroll believes he should receive a full one per cent in royalties instead of one half of a per. cent, he is com forted by the fact his discovery is regarded as one of the great est in a century in the field of metals. While working for the U. S. Bureau of Mines at Albany, Ore., Kroll perfected a second metal process that is proving equally significant. It is used in produc ing zirconium, a metal needed for atomic reactors. Kroll turned his zirconium patent over to the U. S. govern ment. He has been living in Cor vallis since 1945 and left th Bureau of Mines in 1949. Glass Co. Windshields curved & flat Plate Glass Window Glass 303 N. Bartletf DRIVE-IN SERVICE Phone 3-3613 r A fear -End Ford Motor Comp Telegram to the 10,000 any Dealers of America (Text of a message sent by Henry. Ford II, President, Ford Motor Company, shortly after the close of business in 1954) 1954 was a great year for America. We proved that we can have peace and prosperity at the same time. 1954 was a great year for Ford Motor Company, too. In 1954, our domestic payrolls totaled more than $950,000,000, averaging better than $18,000,000 each week. 1954 was the best sales year in the 51 years wef have been in business. In 1954, the American public bought more Ford Motor Company passenger cars and trucks than in any other year. In total, our customers selected and purchased more than 2,000,000 Fords, Lincolns, Mercurys, Ford trucks and Ford tractors. During 195i, ' the public swing to the Ford passenger ear teas clearly established. Complete sales information for the industry is avail able, at this moment, only to November 1st. For the first 10 months of 1954, more people bought Ford passenger cars than any other make. In fact, for the entire 15-month period from August 1, 1953, to November 1, 1954 a postwar period of free compe tition the Ford car is first in sales . . and our sales are continuing at a leaderahip rate. We are proud of this record for 1954. We are grateful to the people who made the record possible our employees, our dealers, our suppliers and, most importantly, our customers. As still another great year for America begins, , we remind ourselves that any achievements of ours are made possible only by the kind of country in which we live and work. : , t We believe that American . freedom and American opportunity are the silent partners of all the indi viduals and all the companies that' have helped keep this country always new, young, vigorous and strong. Ford Motor Company FORD LINCOLN MERCURY CARS FORD TRUCKS FORD TRACTORS AND FARM IMPLEMENTS FORD INDUSTRIAL ENGINES
