The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-23
CONQUEST
OF
POLIO
BY ALTON L. 5LAKESLEE
Associated Press Science Writer

NEW 1Ohk IN - a way tC
prevent paralysis from polio is be.
ing tested this summer in a great
and dramatic human experiment,
Time and $4,000 children will
tell whether it works.
Very soon in a few cities hit
by polio, children will line up fol-
injections.
Half will get a magical medicine
from human blood-gamma globu.
lin or G. G. In monkeys, the GIG.
shots prevented polio paralysis.
The other half will get the in
jectionS that look the same but
lacking the G. G.
Late this fall, the answer will
be known. Was there less paralysis
or even no paralysis among young.
sterS getting the G.G.? Did The G.
G. blockade the polio virus and
stop it from hitting human nerves?
If the answer is yes-we have
fairly practical way of taking
the dreadful paralytic sting out OF
polio. But until the human trials
are run, Americas parents and
children and doctors will never
know whether G. G. can do for
humans what it does for monkeys
| that get the polio virus.
The vital experiment is being
supported by the National Founda-
ton for Infantile Paralysis. II will
start any day now.
The success of the trial. saw
foundation officials, depends great
~ upon parents calm and willing
cooperation and their understand
ing of all the facts.
These are the basic facts as
known now from research:
The polio virus apparently enters
our bodies through the mouth or
nose.
II doesn't cause any sickness at
all while it is in our Stomachs or
intestines.
1t can cause mild sickness, such
as fever and nausea and soreness
OF muscles. while it is in the blood
and few nerve cells OF the cen.
trail nervous system. There is no
paralysis at this time.
The virus causes paralysis only
If 1t damages lot OF nerve cells.
All the damage TO nerve cells is
done within about "a hours.
People always recover from pc.
Ito If nerve cells are not damaged,
or only few are hurt.
They can recover completely or
greatly even from paralysis. The
extent Of recovery depends upon
the extent of damage TO nerve
cells.
Now comes a vital new discov
cry, made by DR.. David Bodian
OF the Johns Hopkins University
and Dr. Dorthy Morstmsnn Of Yale,
IN polio work with monkeys and
chlmpanzees.
After few days, the virus goes
from the intestlnes to the blood
stream of monkeys. BEFORE il
gets into the nerves. The virus
doesn't cause any real sickness
While il is still in the blood.
While II is in their blood. the
monkeys start making antibodles
or agents which disarm or neu-
trallze the virus. II the monkeys
make enough antibody, soon
enough, they escape sickness and
paralysis. II they don't. they fall
i'll Of polio.
Most Importantly, the monkeys
can be protected. They are pro
tected by giving them shots Of
gamma globulin. obtained from the
blood n monkeys which had fought
off polio, or recovered from il.
The shot Of G. G gives the
monkeys the extra anitbody 70 pre-.
vent paralytic sickness.
TIE 6 G is not vaccine Il
stays in the blood only = few
weeks giving temporary protec
'.on
Science doesn't kno3 yet wheth-
er the virus behaves the same eay
in humans. and whether The 6 G.
antbodies could pro<ec' humans
That is Why human tests must
BE- made. uty some children must
get ne & e shots while others
DO no. There IS ~ other vsy n
learning whether e r cao IN
any gid This is exactly re sane
s.n4 ~ test ira: is always made
T'h 8ny re2 drug Some poop .
se+ re ne-E thing ~hsle others
% not. 70 see 4 TIE rex thing
makes any difference
Arr-aer yi'sl fact Is tbs
Most Of IS already have had
pclo
We developed CUR oEr art.5z1-
leF. soon enough. and s.garred ~
a-iSg Fl~ls We probably never
kreF Ne Rad ire virus.
Ae Sill have TIE miraculous ar
a1o1y in TIE gamma glob1iao. ore
lily protein part x our blood 4
rat virus comes alo1g a9aln. cur
e g sctbocy all capture q ard
maze = harmless About 81 per
rar.. - ~ 49, - - 81 u -.