Show i MARCH OF DIMES I 30 Men Women Children Stricken With Polio During 1950 Polio Polo struck again in 1950 For the third consecutive year infantile paralysis went on a rampage across the nation striking more than men women and children Only once before before in in 1949 had 1949 had polio attacked with greater violence The toll of that tragic year was still being counted as the fresh onslaught began Hospitals and clinics were crowded with polio patients from previous epidemics who were depending upon March of Dimes aid for continuing treatment Then on top of this staggering load came the new cases Dozens at first Then hundreds Then thousands and more thousands as the epidemic swept the country from California to New NewYork NewYork York York and from Texas to Alaska 1 Before 1950 was over March of Dimes funds had assisted in some measure measure more than polio victims vic vic- victims victims tims of this and other years years years-at at a acost acost acost cost of And that wasn't enough The National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis for the second year was forced to operate at a deficit Polio played no favorites in 1950 Every lEvery section of the country suf- suf suffered suffered heavy attacks Texas the battleground of major epidemics for six of the last eight years was hit harder than ever before Virginia Vir- Vir Virginia Virginia ginia with a long record of light incidence suddenly found itself the focal point of a raging epidemic Maryland and Iowa watched their case records climb to unprecedented ed led heights But whether records were broken or not it was evident that the entire nation still was being be- be being beling ing ling battered by a polio wave high high- higher highe er e than any in our previous ence I Three Black Years The last three years have been the three blackest polio years in inthe inthe inthe the nations nation's history Cumulative in in- incidence incidence incidence for this period reached the monstrous total of cases cases- cases case's almost as many as the entire case caseload caseload caseload load for the preceding ten years Fortunately wherever polio hit a chapter of the National Foundation for far Infantile Paral Paral- Paralysis Paralysis Paralysis ysis was on the spot ready to help belp the patient his family and the entire community as necessary Your local chapter was the first line of defense against the disease Its chief weapon was money money contributed by the American people to the annual March of Dimes March of Dimes Money admin admin- administered administered administered by 2822 national foundation chapters serving the entire nation has paid bills for patient care totalling during the last two years Under the pressure of successive epidemics chapters in 45 states were broke by mid- mid October of 1950 and had to turn to their national office for financial assistance Before the year was over national foundation head head- headquarters headquarters headquarters i quarters had sent out more than in supplementary aid to these hit hard-hit areas March of Dimes money paid hos hos- hospital hospital hospital pital bills for thousands of families who could not meet the high cost of polio care unaided Four out of every five of the stricken needed and and received r financial received financial assistance from the national foundation and its chapters March March of Dimes money paid for nursing care physical therapy transportation wheelchairs braces and crutches wherever necessary Help was given to all who need it without regard to age race creed or color 94 Million Spent March of Dimes money paid sal sal- salaries salaries salaries aries travel expenses and main main- maintenance maintenance maintenance of more than 1600 des des- desperately desperately desperately needed nurses recruited for the national foundation by the Red Cross for emergency service in incidence high-incidence areas in 37 states Other personnel furnished on the same basis included more than physical therapists and approximately approximately approximately nursing consultants consult March III 1 arc a r c h of Dimes money shipped more than worth of iron lungs hot pack machines and other vital equip equip- equipment equipment equipment ment on short notice from seven equipment depots strategically located throughout the nation Up to October mid-October these depots had rushed into epidemic zones respirations hot pack machines more than cribs and beds and a a heavy volume of miscellaneous hospital sup sup- supplies supplies supplies plies and equipment Bills for polio patient care alone have consumed more than 94 in March of Dimes funds since ince the national foundation was established established in 1938 Almost two-thirds two of this money has been spent during the three years 1948 through 1950 Of all the money spent in the con con- constant constant constant stant battle against infantile par par- paralysis paralysis paralysis the largest part is spent on patient care Four put out of five cases need financial assistance the na na- national national national foundation reports |