Sister Kenny introduced methods of hot-pack applications, stretching, and muscle massage for polio
In 1939, Elizabeth Kenny, or Sister Kenny, as nurses were called in Australia, came to the U.S. in…
President Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and the March of Dimes to fight polio
On Jan. 3, 1938, President Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) known today as the…
Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky successfully grew poliovirus in a culture of brain tissue
In 1936, Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky at the Rockefeller Institute successfully grew poliovirus in a culture of…
Maurice Brodie and John Kolmer test polio vaccines, with disastrous results
In 1935, Maurice Brodie, a research assistant at New York University, attempted to produce a formaldehyde-killed polio vaccine…
First Birthday Balls to raise funds for the Warm Springs Foundation was held on FDR’s birthday
On Jan. 30, 1934, the First Birthday Balls to raise funds for the Warm Springs Foundation was held…
The first iron lung was used to treat polio patients
On Oct. 12, 1928, the first iron lung was used at Boston Children’s Hospital by Harvard Medical School…
Franklin D Roosevelt organized the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation for polio sufferers
In 1927, future President of the U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt organized the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation for polio…
The iron lung was invented
In 1927, the iron lung was developed by Philip Drinker and Louis Agassiz Shaw at Harvard School of…
Future President of the U.S. Franklin D Roosevelt became a victim of polio
In 1921, future President of the U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) became a victim of polio at the…
Polio epidemic spread throughout New York killing more than 2,300 mostly children
On Jun. 17, 1916, New York City experienced the first large epidemic of polio (poliomyletis), with over 9,000…
Guillain-Barr syndrome, also known as Landry-Guillain-Barr-Strohl syndrome, was described
In 1916, Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS), also known as Landry-Guillain-Barr-Strohl syndrome, was described. Its incidence in North America and…
Laboratory evidence of polio infection in persons with non-paralytic disease was published
On Nov. 30, 1912, John F. Anderson and Wade H. Frost published “Transmission of Poliomyelitis by Means of…
Milton J Rosenau and John F Anderson established the standard unit for tetanus antitoxin
In 1908, Milton J. Rosenau and John F. Anderson established the standard unit for tetanus antitoxin. A pioneer…
Karl Landsteiner and Erwin Popper identified a virus as the cause of polio
In 1908, Dr. Karl Landsteiner at the University Department of Pathological Anatomy in Vienna discovered that the cause…
Swedish pediatrician Dr. Ivar Wickman categorized the different clinical types of polio
In 1905, Swedish pediatrician Dr. Ivar Wickman recognized the contagious nature of polio and the importance of abortive…
Cutter Laboratories was founded
In 1897, Cutter Laboratories was a pharmaceutical company located in Berkeley, California that was founded by Edward Ahern…
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The Nobel Foundation was established
On Nov. 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris. He specified…
First known polio epidemic in the U.S. occurred in Vermont
In 1894, the first known polio epidemic in the U.S. occurred in the Rutland, Vermont. 132 people from…
German scientist Dr. Jacob von Heine conducted the first systematic investigation of polio
In 1840, German scientist Dr. Jacob von Heine conducted the first systematic investigation of polio and developed the…