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Salk Polio Vaccine, Mahoney Strain

National Museum of American History
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Object Details

Salk, Jonas E.
Description
Jonas Salk first tested his polio vaccine on humans in July 1952 when he inoculated thirty children at the D. T. Watson Home for Crippled Children near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These children had already had polio, so Salk's test was designed to prove that his vaccine would create a higher level of immunity than a natural infection. Salk also tested his vaccine on residents of the Polk State Home and on himself and members of his laboratory staff.
This vial contains residue of polio vaccine from these first tests. The polio virus exists in hundreds of different strains, all of which fall into three major types. A complete vaccine must contain a strain from each of these three types. However, the children at the Watson Home received only one type of vaccine matching the strain of their original polio infection. This vial is labeled for the Mahoney strain (Type I).
The Mahoney strain of the polio virus was isolated in 1941 from three children in the Mahoney family of Akron, Ohio. The children themselves were asymptomatic although they had been in contact with some serious cases of poliomyelitis.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
1952
ID Number
MG.221419.04
catalog number
221419.04
accession number
221419
Object Name
biological
vaccine, polio
Physical Description
vaccine residue, polio virus (overall, drug ingredient)
glass (overall, container material)
Measurements
overall: 5.5 cm x 2.3 cm; 2 3/16 in x 7/8 in
place made
United States: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
Related Publication
Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition
Related Web Publication
http://americanhistory.si.edu/treasures
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Health & Medicine
The Antibody Initiative
National Treasures exhibit
Antibody Initiative: Polio
National Museum of American History
subject
Vaccines
Record ID
nmah_874829
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-02f3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Polio

    American History Museum
Salk polio vaccine
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