Product Description
In March 2001, the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: "The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading."Furthermore, because of the rapid increase in Internet-based information, many hours can be wasted searching, selecting, and printing.This book was created for medical professionals, students, and members of the general public who want to conduct medical research using the most advanced tools available and spending the least amount of time doing so. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows readers the reality of polio and how it alters human lives. Thirty-five polio survivors open their hearts to explain their experiences--the day they were diagnosed with polio, their initial hospital stay, the therapy and the treatments they received, and the effects of polio on their childhood, youth, adulthood, and relationships with others. The editor, a polio survivor himself, and two colleagues obtained interviews with these survivors. The result is this written tribute to the survival of the human spirit. The book begins with an introduction to the disease. Next, the stories of the thirty-five interviewees are detailed and arranged into chapters according to the survivors' common life experiences. Finally, the editor provides a conclusion in hopes of "making some sense of polio's legacy." Readers will see how polio's legacy reveals itself through these stories. Because these are personal accounts about humans with a disease, they also provide information about others with disabling disorders. "Polio's Legacy" will be of prime interest to those in the medical field and anyone who wants to see the reality of the individual's fight for life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Thank you
As a polio survivor, I am grateful to Edmund Sass for the comprehensive coverage of people whose lives were forever changed by this disease.I read it hoping to get some elucidation about some recent problems I have that I think may be caused by post-polio.I am so fortunate to have lived a life relatively free of polio residuals after having had both bulbar and spinal polio.I am grateful to my parents for their unrelenting belief in exercising limbs that would have atrophied without their help.They did exercises with me and hired a physical therapist who was aware of Sister Kenny's methods to live with us and work with me every day.They never gave up, so I never did either.I find that much of my life has been lived the same way - I will never give up when I have made a commitment to do something, and have often exhausted my physical resources by being this way.I remember being in an iron lung, having to have a tracheotomy, the spinal tap, isolation, rocking beds, crutches, leg braces and then realizing the ultimate goal of walking again.I hated not being able to run like my classmates, but my parents unfailingly pointed out that many of the children in my polio ward would never ever be able to walk again and I should always be grateful for all the people who brought me back from the very brink of death.I acknowledge being an A+ personality type and the onset of my present disabilities is particularly difficult to accept after having gone "through the fire" once.I still think often of the children in my ward who died from complications of polio and I would like to think that I fought so hard to be whole for them, too.Thank you, Edmund Sass, for a worthwhile book.I am now going to pursue more information and perhaps treatment for post-polio symptoms.

A tribute to all those affected by polio, including families
For anyone whose life has been touched by polio, whether through direct experience with the disease, caring for those who were affected by it or the fear of those epidemic summers , 3Polio1s Legacy2 will evoke powerful memories.For some, the bookmight even help piece together crucial aspects of a buried past thatshaped their lives. Or they might remember the horror of hearing that their spinal tap did indeed indicate polio, and of being told they would never walk again.And few of us will forgetthe struggle back into the mainstream.We all fought hard not to be 3crippled2, even thoughwe were! Cripples in the first half of this century were frequently looked upon with disdain.Feared or thought to be cursed by God, whatever the reason, some physically disabled children were even barred from attending public schools.President F. D. Roosevelt, however, personally overcame the prejudices of that erathrough a 3cheerful striving toward normalization2, and that is in effect what we all did. Edmund Sass begins with a layman1s description of polio in both the acute phase and the later effects which are commonly referred to as the post-polio syndrome.He then introduces usto 35 U.S. polio survivors who present their shared experiences in their own words.They tell us about the initial illness, lumbar punctures, hospitalization, separation from family and friends, iron lungs, wheelchairs, surgery, scoliosis, braces, crutches, canes and much more. Dr. Richard Owen, a doctor who had polio and who edited 3Polio1s Legacy2for medical accuracy, wrote the followingin his preface: 3The memories jarred loose by reading this book. . . .help to define ourselves by understanding better the way we were and by becoming more sensitive to the experiences of others.The stories contain instances of grimness and humor, of courage and fear, of opinion and sadness, of coping and denial.This carefully- put-together book is a service to society as a history of a time and of a disease with broad ramifications and implications.2 3How can I live within my limitations and still be the same person I was?2 asks one of the polio survivors who finally acknowledged that she needed help in coping with new weaknesses many years after the original polio.Many who had polio probably have asked or will ask themselves the same question because post-polio syndrome is a reality for people aging withpolio.Why some people have late effects and others don1t has yet to be determined.There are, however,some predictive factors.The following reflection by someone who is experiencing new difficulty with his old polio speaks for many: 3Some dayswhen I have more than my usual number of aches and pains or when my energy level is particularly low, I feel like I have a ticking time-bomb inside my body that is about to go off.I1ve come to the conclusion that polio is a particularly cruel disease.It steals your childhood, gives you 20 or30yearsto adjust to the disabilities with which you were left, and then threatens to return to complicate your life once again.2 Despite all this, most of those interviewed have lead full and enriched lives.Their stories celebrate life and the resiliency of the human spirit and might even inspire parents of handicapped children today. 3To individuals with polio residuals and/or post-polio syndrome and their families, the book serves as a collective memoir.To those health workers, scientists, andvolunteers who participated in the battles against this frightening and often devastating disease,the book can function asrecognition for a job well done.2 (Dr. Owen1s preface) But for me, the highlight of 3Polio1s Legacy2 is Sass1s dedication of his book to the parents (or caregivers) of polio survivors:3Though we went through hell2,says the author, 3we took our parents along for the ride....and they never complained.2To all parents and families, and mine in particular, this is an opportunity to offer a delayed but profoundthank you. Sally Aitken. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the best known microbiologists, Salk is celebrated mainly for his discovery of the polio vaccine. In the early twentieth century, polio became a menacing disease. It struck hundreds of thousands of children and young adults. The virus didn't just spread disease. It also spread fear. Since polio struck mainly in the summer, warm weather and vacations were looked upon with dread. Families no longer went to the beach. Mothers kept their children indoors on warm, sunny days. For a long time, it looked like the summers of fear were going to be a part of American life.

Jonas Salk changed all that. He would solve the riddle to one of the most tragic mysteries in the last one hundred years. Born to immigrant parents with little money, he was the first in his family to go to college. He would grow up to challenge some of the brightest men of his time. He would confront doctors and scientists who doubted his methods, questioned his ability and ridiculed his results.

Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine is part of the series, Unlocking the Secrets of Science. This series profiles the achievers of the 20th century in the fields of science, medicine, and technology. Written especially for young adult readers, the series helps place each significant invention, discovery, or development in historical perspective while exploring the life of the person responsible for each breakthrough. No science fiction story even approximates the mystery and suspense contained in these true science biographies. ... Read more

Product Description
Text is a report from the Institute of Medicine's Immunization Safety Review Committee looking at the long term effects of a contaminated polio vaccine administered from 1955-1963. Specifically targets the recipients of the vaccine and with respect to increased occurrences of cancer. Softcover. ... Read more

Product Description
This up-to-date and comprehensive set of two CD-ROM discs provides a superb collection of authoritative documents on the subject of polio and post-polio syndrome. Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It attacks your nervous system. In rare cases, polio infection can cause paralysis. Polio vaccination will protect most people for life. The United States and most other countries eradicated polio decades ago, except for rare cases. The disease most commonly affects young children. Poliovirus spreads in human waste. People usually get it from contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, vomiting, neck stiffness, and leg and arm pain. Most infected people never have symptoms. No treatment will reverse polio paralysis. Moist heat, physical therapy and medicines might ease symptoms. Some people who've had polio develop post-polio syndrome (PPS) years later. Symptoms include tiredness, new muscle weakness and muscle and joint pain. There is no way to prevent or cure PPS. For patients, practical information is provided in clearly written patient education documents. For medical professionals, doctor reference tools and texts have detailed technical information and clinical background material. There is no other reference that is as fast, convenient, and portable - everything you need to know, from the federal sources you trust. This thoroughly researched collection presents vital information from many authoritative sources: Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the relevant institute for this disease, and others.In addition to the comprehensive disease-specific coverage, this disc set also includes our Medical Encyclopedia, a $19.95 value! The Encyclopedia presents a collection of official documents about a wide range of medical topics, diseases, illnesses, health and wellness. There is vital information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Cancer Institute, and more. Topics covered include: major diseases, including cancer, heart and vascular disease, stroke, blood diseases and disorders, lung diseases, and neurological disorders such as dementia and epilepsy * CDC Health Topics A to Z, Foodborne Illnesses, Infants and Children, Injuries, Occupational Health, Older Adults, Women * CDC Travelers' Health - Destinations, Vaccinations, Diseases, Mosquito, Tick, Food, Water, Clinics, Yellow Book, Children, Airplanes, Cruise Ships, Special Needs, Relief Workers * Dietary Guidelines * NIH A to Z from abnormalities to X-rays.Since navigating the Internet to find additional non-governmental medical information can be confusing, we've also provided our exclusive "Guide to Leading Medical Websites" with updated links to 67 of the best sites for medical information! Built-in weblinks let you quickly check for the latest clinical updates directly from the government and the best commercial portals, news sites, reference/textbook/non-commercial portals, and health organizations.This CD-ROM has tens of thousands of pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software. Advanced search and indexing features of the current version of Adobe Reader provide a complete full-text index. This enables the user to search all the files on the disc at one time for words or phrases using just one search command! The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of medical documents and material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great history of Salk and the Polio Vaccine he created...
Jonas Salk happened to be the man who as a research scientist made the Polio vaccine a reality.He did not work alone, but washailed a hero for all his efforts.Jane Smith writes a wonderfully inclusive book about the Polio epidemics which includes great pictures of some of the Poster Children, FDR who founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the Polio Pioneers (1954), and even a picture of Elvis getting his Polio shot.

With children dying and being crippled by Polio each summer, there was a great desire to develop a safe and effective vaccine.Dr. Salk was so confident in his vaccine that he vaccinated himself, his wife, and his 3 boys.

When the newspaper headlines declared "VICTORY OVER POLIO" it was as if we had won a war.And, we felt as if we had!This good news replaced news of hydrogen bomb tests and Supreme Court hearings on school desegregation for a while.

But, in the last chapter of her book Smith reminds us that there are over 300,000 polio survivors in the USA today and many of them are now suffering from new symptoms, the late effects of Polio, commonly called Post Polio Syndrome (PPS).It reminds us that the final chapters on Polio are not yet written... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wouldn't recommend
I bought this book largely based on the stellar reviews I read here on Amazon.Honestly, I felt more than a little let down.The book is centered on a man who has lost the love of his life and is despised by his fellow citizens due to his unwillingness to sell his land for a new Stadium.

With the exception of some clever names for the main characters and a bizarre meeting with a football hero, the promised laughs were never delivered.If you are in the market for a few chuckles, I'd recommend you stear clear of this Hole

A book to reread always
"... is impossible to relate, it can only be experienced or not experienced"

This book is one of the few rare books whose power is not created by the weight of the book when it drops on your head, but rather created through the experience that you go through when you read it. Like any such book, it is a richly layered enterprise, with many many different levels of meaning. With perhaps every word purposedly chosen. (down to the fictitious reviews from such luminaries as Frederick Douglass and Brendan O'Malley)

And because of all these qualities, you will read and reread this book and find new perspectives each time you approach it anew.

I highly recommend this book to all!

Strangely amazing and amazingly strange
This book reminded me of a Beatles song...the lyrics are so strange and sometimes disconnected, but when set to the music the song engulfs you with beauty, even if it doesn't make sense.The Hole lost me a few times at the outset, but as I kept reading, it became more and more beautiful...a tale of love and of losing, of finding yourself again, or at least what's left after you've lost someone wonderful.

Unique and powerful
This book has been one of the unique books I have read in a while, and I really liked it. Good luck to the author. ... Read more

Product Description
Interviews around the World with photographers, photojournalists, experts, and human interest stories of real people. From the mountains of Russia, to the schools in Cameroon Africa, the science of Molecular Biology in USA, the workers for the Environment in Trinidad and Tobago, Cleaning the Coasts of the Caribbean, Photographs of the mystical Bermuda, to Cambodia and the Khmer Magic Silk Workers, Asia and Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran and its Revolution, France and India's colours, Venice, Buenos Aires and Vancouver, British Columbia. ... Read more