Show Y IN 11 V al 23 az U 1 im i V WIN W ta I 1 s I 1 xa 0 ea V f 5 I 1 L J i i V instrument OF MERCY A hundred and fifty thousand dimes contributed in the 1946 march of dimes paid for the fully equipped mobile emergency unit three views 0 of which are shown above in addition to moving emergency patients the unit serves as a training center and aucilla auxiliary axy hospital facility when needed the unit proved its worth during the severe epidemic last summer CEASELESS WAR high i g h P polio 0 ai 0 toll fqy 13 I 1 I 1 G gives iv es impetus to march of f D dimes 0 mes features with latest reports compiled by national foundation for infantile paralysis indicating that the year 1946 witnessed the most severe epidemic of polio in the history of the foundation concerted effort is being centered on the 1947 march of dimes w which aich opened throughout the nation on january 15 the national foundation spearhead organization in the ceaseless war against the great crippler is directing agency for the annual march of dimes campaign the drive will be 30 heavy expenditures resulting from the nationwide 1946 epidemic have dipped deeply into the foundations funds directors assert in urging generous support for the 1947 solicitation to provide means for or coping with any emergency in the future the march of dimes they add is the only method employed by the foundation to raise money to finance its many activities fatalities decline figures complied compiled by the foundation disclose that in 1946 there were more than cases of infantile paralysis with fatalities running between 5 and 10 per cent in the year 1916 before the foundation was organized the greatest polio epidemic in history was recorded that year cases were reported reportedly b 28 states fatalities running as big high h as 25 per cent the sharp decrease in fatalities is attributed in part to the persistent educational program waged since the foundation was started in 1938 which brought about better diagnosis and early hos vitalization at the same time improved therapeutic t methods n were credited with prevention of many cases of permanent crippling hardest bit during 1946 according to foundation figures was the mississippi valley region where Minn headed the list of heavily lift hit states with a total of 2813 cases however flor florida on the east coast and california on the west nest coast also were seriously affected and other widely scattered regions were lard bard hit as well adhering to its policy of leaving half ot of all funds collected during ibbe the march of dimes with its local county chapters the foundation left more than eight million dollars with these chapters during january 1946 up to november 1 more than of these chapters had entirely depleted their shares of this land fund and had to cau call upon the foundation for help this help reached the sum of more than tour four million dollars emphasize research besides supplying local chapters with emergency funds the foundation used its share of march of dimes collections in furthering a concentrated and widespread program of research into causes and possible cures of the malady and in training doctors physical therapists p ests epidemiologists and other front line soldiers in the war against polio A considerable amount also was spent on public education and during 1948 1946 more than six million pieces of literature on the disease were distributed free during the last fiscal year nearly two million dollars was expended for research activities the foundation emphasizes that no victim of polio regardless of age race creed or color need go without the he best available care through lack of funds infantile paralysis the statement points out is among the most unpredictable of diseases no one knows when or where it will strike but until research finally finds the answers to many puzzling questions still obscured there Is 0 one n e sure thing about polio and that Is that tha it will strike no group immune despite its name it can strike and has struck persons of 0 all age groups although the age group five to nine appears to be most ible boys seem to be slightly more susceptible than girls and there Is no evidence to show that any one race is more immune to its it ravages than any other what Is important at this at stage age the report says Is that a doctor be consulted as soon as the disease is suspected and sometimes the symptoms so closely resemble those of a common cold that no chances should be taken early diagnosis and hospitalization may prevent death or permanent crippling the report stresses and the early services of a competent medical man are absolutely essential in discussing the future the report expresses confidence that the cause and a prevention of the dread crippler will be found in the meantime it is pointed out the public has every assurance that march of dimes funds distributed by local c chapters in their territories have made possible the best available care and purchased the most up to date equipment regardless of cost t so that any bomm foreseeable exigency 1 can be met aid is assured behind the local chapters stands the national foundation carrying on its program of public education and research and ready to send aid to any county which may deplete its funds through unusual epidemic conditions I 1 the work will go on the foundation promises funds collected during the 1947 march of dimes will replenish exhausted treasuries so that when the 1947 polio season rolls around sometime in the late spring and through the sur summer rimer the nation will be ready |