Description:

Weller Thomas

Three piece archive revolving around the scientists involved in the process to research, diagnose, and eradicate polio.



1. A signed copy of the research report "The Cultivation Of The Polio-Myelitis Viruses in Tissue Culture", which won the 1954 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology , signed and inscribed by one of the research scientists, Thomas H. Weller as "To Mrs. J I beck/with regards/T H Weller". A near fine example, published in Stockholm, 1955. 6.5" x 9.5". The report is bound by 2 large staples, and tipped into a card stock backing. Small archival repair to the last page



2. A glossy black and white photograph of Dr. Jonas Salk taken by United Press International Photo. 6.25" x 9".



3. A "Stop Polio" Advertisement flyer, dated 1963 promoting the 3 does oral vaccine discovered by Sabin. Soliciting everyone to become vaccinated. 5.25" x 8.5" Orange pamphlet with a center fold. Small triangular loss of paper with a slight stain.



A spectacular set of historical moments involving the processes, and scientists who paved the way to discovering how to defeat the polio virus, and eradicate it worldwide.

Enders, Robbins and Weller's Nobel prize in 1954 was awarded for their decade long research culminating in the success to cultivate poliomyelitis viruses in a test tube. This necessary first step allowed for the ability to research the virus in a controlled environment. The Nobel laureates revealing acceptance speech covers the essence of the importance of their research. In part



"The culture technique was instrumental in the discoveries of the modern wonder drugs, sulfa, penicillin, streptomycin, etc…The 75 year old fight against the bacterial diseases has been successful. .. Turning to the virus diseases we meet an entirely different picture. .. our art fails us. Worst of all, many virus diseases are on the increase, a tendency particularly evident in poliomyelitis. After having been practically unknown at the turn of the century, poliomyelitis in this country is now responsible for almost one fifth of all deaths from acute infections… It is not difficult to find the reason why the virologists have failed where the bacteriologists were so successful. They have been severely handicapped by the difficulties connected with the cultivation of viruses… Unlike bacteria and other microorganisms, virus is incapable of multiplying in artificial life less culture media.

At first the virologist had to resort entirely to animal experiments, hoping that inoculation of the test material would produce a typical disease. … Tissue culture developed almost into tissue cult, a mystery the secret rites of which were revealed only to a narrow circle of inaugurates with Carrel as their high priest…. By giving the virologists a practicable method for the isolation and study of viruses you relieved them of a handicap, burdening them from the birth of their science and placed them for the first time on an even footing with other microbe hunters."



Concurrently, in 1949, Bodian, Morgan, and Howe classified three different classes of poliovirus (Types I, II, and III) indicating that any poliovirus vaccine would need to be trivalent in order to be maximally effective. These stunning precursor achievements were quickly followed by opening the doors to Jonas Salk who was appointed by The March of Dimes to conduct research to design a polio vaccine. In the span of 6 years, the key basic lab discoveries facilitating the development of the vaccine were made, optimization and safety testing was completed in both animals and human volunteers, the largest clinical trial in history of 1.8 million children was conducted, and the results were released to an eagerly awaiting public.

The final step in the process, researched by Sabin, was to refine the vaccine to allow for an easy to administer live virus. His oral vaccine which required 3 doses, both heightened the vaccine effectiveness, but more importantly, also offered a solution to 'get the vaccine out there' all over the world as it did not require needles for administration. This allowed large scale and world wide vaccination which was able to reach remote third world countries. Sabin's oral vaccine (OPV) continues to be used in mass immunization campaigns for the WHO poliovirus eradication program, because it is effective at eliminating wild polioviruses, and is easy to administer.



A wonderful archive set, showing several medical highlights and achievements. These scientists dedicated their lives to end this disease which created more fear by Americans than the possibility of Nuclear War. Polio paralyzed tens of thousands of victims, mostly children.



This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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