Polio: Europeamn Experiences

children polio
Figure 1.--

We are most familiar with the Unitd States. But the same terrible tragedy was repeated in the major European countries as well. Our information at this time is limited. A British reader tells us of his experiences. An additioal tragedy was visited on German children who cotracted polio. During the NAZI era, children who were severely disabled werte in many cases brought before the NAZI genetic courts. In some cases they were srerilized. Other children were euthenized. This could be done not only without their parents approval or even when the parents objected to such actions.

England

A British reader tells us of his experiences. "Your item on polio brings back memories of those times in the 1940s and 50s. My late wife nursed in an infectious diseases hospital in Bradford, Yorkshire in the late-40s. She told me of heartbreaking stories of the victims of polio. I met the same during my time in the Medical Corps in Cyprus in the middle 50s. Vigourous exerise during the incubation period of the diease seemed to exacerbate the severity of the paralysis, so fit young athletic men would be suddenly severe and permanent cripples. The severest form was 'bulbar polio'. That was when the virus affected the brain stem, rendering a total paralysis and the need for the 'iron lung'. Paradoxically these severe cases often made a fuller recovery than those with more peripheral weakness. Sadly this was not the case for all. The disease struck in the summer months. The authorities were not sure at the time how it was spread. As a precaution lage gatherings were discouraged, and in particular swimming pools were closed. Rivers and streams were 'out of bounds'. This annoyed the children in urban areas who had no local beaches. Sea water was considered safe. It was a great relief that my children were able to be immunised. They had the Sabin vaccine by injection in 1957 and not the Salk Vaccine which came later and was given on sugar lumps. There are many other infectious diseases that the Western World is well rid of. Complacency is a worry. Parents may feel there is no need to subject their children to 'jabs' as the dieases are uncommon. In the UK we have had a recent surge of measles, a particularly nasty disease that can lead to blindness brain damage and deafness. I had a 4-year patient die in my arms with whooping cough in the early 1950s. I wouldn't want anyone to go through that experience. Continued awareness of the need for immunisation is vital."

France


Germany

An additioal tragedy was visited on German children who cotracted polio. During the NAZI era, children who were severely disabled werte in many cases brought before the NAZI genetic courts. In some cases they were srerilized. Other children were euthenized. This could be done not only without their parents approval or even when the parents objected to such actions.

Russia


Sweden







HBC




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Created: 11:38 AM 2/12/2009
Last updated: 11:39 AM 2/12/2009