Mercy Medical Center
in Oshkosh is celebrating 125 Years
Between now and the
final celebration in September, we will share some stories and facts to show
how far we have come in furthering the vision of the initial Sisters.
1955
Polio Epidemic hits Oshkosh
“In 1955, Wisconsinites saw the worst
polio epidemic in state history.
Although the Salk vaccine would become effective in April, Wisconsin
reported 921 cases and 134 deaths due to polio by August. The Fox Valley had more polio cases per population
than anywhere else in the country.
Residents quarantined their children, canceled public events and gave
money to The March of Dimes …
March of Dimes assistance included
transportation, braces, shoes, and
physical therapy. The organization also
donated equipment to hospitals and hired staff.
To cope with the Oshkosh epidemic, the March of Dimes provided three
general duty nurses to the polio ward at Mercy Hospital. During the 1955 epidemic, Mercy was equipped
with iron lungs for its patients.” (p.139-40)
– Ron La Point in Oshkosh : The Way We Were : Remembering
People and Places , c2009
Learn
more about the Polio Epidemic :
A Paralyzing Fear [dvd]
: The Story of Polio in America
DVD
HIC WC 555 P221 2005 Available at the
MMC Library
Read more
about History of Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI :
These
short articles appeared in Jeremy Normington-Slay's Friday News & Notes
emails sent out to all Mercy employees in 2016. The historical and
Archival Material was provided by Michele Matucheski, Librarian and Archivist
at Mercy Medical Center.
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