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 Saukett strain (Type III).
- Researchers isolated this strain from James Sarkett who contracted polio when he was ten years old. However the label on the sample taken from Sarkett was misread as “Saukett.” In scientific and medical research the strain continues to be referred to as the “Saukett strain.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
- 1952
- ID Number
- MG.221419.05
- catalog number
- 221419.05
- accession number
- 221419
- Object Name
- vaccine, polio
- biological
- Physical Description
- vaccine residue, polio virus (overall, drug ingredient)
- rubber; fabric; ink; adhesive (overall material)
- glass (overall, container material)
- Measurements
- overall: 5.4 cm x 2.5 cm; 2 1/8 in x in
- overall: 2 1/8 in x 1 in; x 5.3975 cm x 2.54 cm
- 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 exhibition website
- Related Web Publication
- https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/treasures-american-history
- 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_874831
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-02f4-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
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