The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-13
Star-Newsreel Outlines
Planned Polio Campaign

The Star-NeWSfeel, IeSuAar SuE-
day afternoon broadcast sponsored
by The Star and The News, yes
terday presented DR.. j. Watts
Farthing, vice-president of the New
Hanover Medical Society; Patsy
Davenport, 9-year-olo Hemingway
school student; Joan Mincy, sec
rotary to W. X. Rhodes, Jr., chair
man New Hanover March of
Dimes drive; and Lieutenant Com
mander John H. Wilson, command
ing officer of the local Naval Re-
serve Unit.
DR.. Farthing gave an overall
picture of the infantile paralysis
condition throughout the country
and empha sized the need for a sue
cessful campaign this year due to
the depleted funds of the National
Foundation following the epidemic
last year. He pointed out that
the entire medical profession is be-
hind the campaign and expressed
his sincere hope that the citizens
would join with them and make the
drive a success.
polio is one Of the most ex.
Ipensive diseases known to medical
history and the average person
struck down with it cannot afford
the curative treatment without the
help of the Foundation" he said.
THE AKIN of the foundation is
that no one suffering from polio
will go without treatment regard
less of race, color, OF creed"
polio knows no age, and while
rs per cent of the people affected
are children, nevertheless the di-
seases can strike and does strike
in Is per cent of the cases, between
the ages of Is and 40 years" ne
added. That is why we should
90 all out to make this campaign
a success" he continued.
Joan Mincy explained to the
radio audience that the goal for
New Hanover county this year is
So, 200, of which one-half will be
sent to the National Foundation
and the other half will be retained
here for the treatment of cases
here.
She stated that 10 victims Of polio
are now receiving treatment at
the James Walker Memorial hos
pital in the polio unit which the
New Hanover chapter constructed
and now maintains. At present,
she continued, the county chapter
has a registered nurse in New York
City studying the latest methods
of treatment, and upon completion
of her course will return to take
over full supervision of the polio
unit here. This unit serves not
only New Hanover county, but also
treats cases from surrounding
counties.
Special Plea
The highlight on the program
was the appearance of 9-year-old
Patsy Davenport who resides with
her mother and grandparents at
Ais South Fourth street. Patsy, a
victim of polio suffered four years
ago, when interviewed by Ben Nc
Donald, said that, This past year
II spent almost five months at
Warm Springs, Georgia, and 1 was
helped a great deal. The assistance
II received has enabled me to walk
better and if I continue to i'm
prove the way I have it. is hoped
that someday soon l will walk with
out any brace at ALL" Patsy also
asked the listening audience to re-
spond generously in the campaign.
1t. Commander John H. Wilson
described the duties of the per-
sonnet of the local division of the
Naval Reserve, and stated that
the USS PC IT'S which is now
locked at the Customs House, will
be here for about six weeks be.
fore it goes on the first cruise. The
ship will be open for public in.
spection every day from l until
o'clock, he said.
The program was written and di.
rected by Ben Mcdonald, Round.
the-Town-Reporter for the Star
News. Tom Cause was the specia.
announcer.
CT HNU nr rTyr