Poliomyelitis: A Disease Born of Progress

Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to explain the ways in which an epidemic such as polio can arise as a side effect of progress. It examines the part progress played in the polio epidemic throughout the twentieth century in America and also explores the rich history behind the disease. It also looks at how the polio outbreak brought many strides in the direction of preventive medicine, public health awareness and private insurance companies.

From the Paper:

"The origin of polio is largely a mystery. Efforts to distinguish the origins of the polio virus have proved futile. The Bible and the ancient writings of Homer include several accounts of children suffering from "lameness or withered limbs" (Black, 23). However, the descriptions are too ambiguous to be attributed to polio. According to archaeological evidence, disease has probably been around "since at least 1500 BC" (Black, 23). The first documented epidemic occurred in Stockholm during 1887, and it involved 44 cases of infantile paralysis (Black, 23). The first United States epidemic did not appear until 1894 when it "struck 132 people" in Rutland, Vermont (Black, 24). It was clear that polio was only emerging in developed regions of the world while underdeveloped nations remained largely unscathed by the disease."

More papers on Poliomyelitis: A Disease Born of Progress:

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• Book Review # 135024 : "Ronald Wright's "A Short History of Progress"
• Essay # 71005 : "The End of Progress"

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