Thursday, March 26, 2009

Dr. Jonas Salk

I remember lining up outside Lamberton Elementary School and being given a small cup with some pink liquid inside. I swallowed it down. I don't really remember anything else. What was it? I remember giving small change to the March of Dimes. What was it?

On March 26, 1953 Dr. Jonas Salk announced to the world that he had successfully tested a polio vaccine. He first vaccinated himself and his family to show that it was safe. Dr. Salk never patented his discovery. He could have become rich but said, "There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" America had taken on this task and won.

Polio has been virtually eliminated around the world.