1954 ALASKA POLIO INCIDENCE
SIX TIMES MORE THAN NATIONAL RATI
A record total in March of Dim
es funds was spent in 1954 to
combat last year’s territory-wide
polio epidemic, which was far and
away the worst in Alaskan his
tory, John J. O’Shea, Alaska
March of Dimes chairman, re
cently announced.
There were 334 reported cases
of polio in Alaska through 1954’s
50th week, O’Shea reported. This
represented an incidence more
than six times the national rate
for the continental United States,
he said.
In releasing epidemic cost fig
ures, O’Shea stated that a total
of $86,287 was spent in 1954
through the three Alaskan chap
ters of the March of Dimes organ
ization to provide hospital care,
equipment and services to polio
patients requiring financial as
sistance. He said this included a
check for $7,500 received recently
from March of Dimes headquart
ers by the South Central Alaska
chapter to augment funds ex
hausted by the emergency.
This figure is nearly twice the
total spent in aid to polio suffer
ers during all of 1953, O’Shea ad
ded. In that year the price of
polio in Alaska for patient aid
was $44,725, he said.
The March of Dimes chairman
stressed that these 1954 figures
do not cover other emergency aid
dispatched directly to Alaskans
frm March of Dimes headquarters
at the height of the polio epidem
ic. During the year seven iron
lungs, three hot pack machines,
four suction machines and one
rocking bed were rushed from
the States to epidemic points, he
said.
Mr. O’Shea recalled that a polio
emergency aid team was rushed
to the territory from Seattle by
the National Foundation at the
peak of the emergency last Aug
ust. These specially trained polio
fighters—two doctors and a nurse
—assisted nurses, technicians and
hospital engineers in developing
epidemic techniques to help soft
en the polio blow. Emergency
shipments of gamma globulin
were flown in for mass inocula
tions, as in the case of St. Paul’s
Island, 800 miles west in the
W.C.T.U. MEETING
SET FOR JANUARY 28
The Palmer Unit of the Worn
| efc’s Christian Temperance Union
will hold its regular monthly
meeting at 8 p.m. January 28,
at the Church of God on Matan
uska Street. The business meeting
main feature, election of officers,
will be followed by devotions by
Rev. Wesley Lancaster. A sound
film “Any Boy U.S.A” will com
plete the program. The public is
invited to attend.
Aleutians, where the entire popu
lation of 360 was injected with the
blood fraction provided by the
March of Dimes.
The National Foundation is
continuing to cooperate with terri
torial health officers in' setting
up diagnostic and follow-up clin
ics throughout Alaska, in a pro
gram first undertaken back in
1950. Financial assistance in this
program will proceed through
1955 with the active participation
of all three Alaskan chapters of
the March of Dimes organization,
he stated.
This year’s anti-polio fund-rais
ing drive, now under way, will
continue through January 31.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
Music for Polio
All dimes played m phonographs Friday, January 28, ia
the following plates wW gala (be March of Dimes
SHAMROCK BAR
FRONTIER CAFE
WHITE SPOT CAFE
SOURDOUGH BAR
FRONTIER BAR
PALMER BAR
NEAL WRIGHT
BOB PETERSON
HOMEMAKERS CLUB
NOTES
Riverbend Club
The Riverbend Homemakers’
club held its regular meeting
January 20 at Mildred Buzby’s
There were 14 members and two
visitors present. Jeanne Moffitt
rejoined the club and Clara Buz
by joined as a new member.
A letter from Faith Krause
concerning the current “March of
Dimes” drive was read by the
secretary, and the club voted to
•end a check for $15 to the fund.
Mrs. Moffitt and Mrs. Carlson
were appointed a committee to
further investigate our recipe
book possibilities.
Esther Kirsch reported that Dr.
Washburn would probably take
a 4-H Garden club for Riverbend
club members, and parents were
urged to cooperate in every way
possible with the 4-H’ers and the
leaders; especially the parents in
seeing that their children get to
the meetings, and in having meet
ings at their homes.
Sarah Brewster ana Laura
Berry volunteered to again be
leaders for our 4-H cooking and
sewing club.
It was suggested that we in
quire if the Extension Service
wouia contact some company
about sponsoring a trip to the
annual 4-H Congress at Chicago
for cooking. At present only gar
dening and sewing club members
get sponsored trips.
Club members surprised our •
president Mary Doherty, with a i
pink and blue shower.
Sourdough Club
At the January 11 meeting of
the Sourdough Homemakers’ club
held at Nan Curtis’ home, Mrs.
Marylou Hideout gave a very in
teresting talk on Newer Fabrics
showing samples of blends and
combinations. Everyone was eag
er for more help along these lines
and this was indicated by the
number of questions. The club
voted $25 contribution to the
March of Dimes.
The February meeting will be
held at the home of Mrs. Amy":
Irwin.
Butte Homemakers
Butte Homemakers met Jan.
20 at the home of Eva Plumley.
Roll call was responded to with
short cuts to sewing. '
k A letter from Faith Krause f
c
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was read requesting that the club
make a contribution to the March
of Dimes fund. The club donated
$25 to the fund.
Dorothy Newby was appointed
chairman of the club’s March of
Dimes fund raising campaign for
the year 1955.
Decision was made to have a
Valentime apron and bath goods
sale at the Trading Post Feb
ruary 5.
Marylou Rdeout gave an in
teresting discourse on the (newer
fibres and fabrics. She also show
ed a novel idea for children s
towel and bathmat set with hand
and footmat painted with textile
paiints.
Next meeting will be held Feb.
17 at the home of Dorothy New
by.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
CORDUROY JACKETS AND COATS
FOR SPRING!
Sizes 6 to 12 years
Togs 'n Seams
HAGEN BLDG.
PHONE 74
BOB KAY
Fire— Auto—Life—Casualty
Phone 83 Neal Wright Bldg.
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OUR SKILL IS
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GUARANTEE
Accural* compounding of prescriptions . . .
knowledge of scientific advances . . . friendly,
prompt service . . . are the signposts that say
“Your Health Comes **irst With Us."
3 Pharmacists on Duty at All Times
BERT’S DRUG STORE
ANYTHING OF VALUE IS
PERFECTLY SAFE HERE!
Jewels, personal papers, sentimental souvenirs—ran'*
be lost or destroyed when you put them i„ one of our boxes.
Low rentals!
MATANUSKA VALLEY BANK
Palmer, Alaska