OFFERS LIFE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10914, 4 June 1929, Page 3

OFFERS LIFE.

WOMAN'S EFFORT TO SAVE CM [LOREN. A REMARKABLE LETTER. SYDNEY, May 10. A remarkable offer has been made by a, Sydney woman in a letter addressed to tin* Minister lor Health in New South Vales (Dr. Arthur). She says that .she is willing to be inoculated with the germs oi infantile paralysis, -so that serum -ran be obtained from her for the treatment of children who are suffering from this dread disease. Her offer was no doubt prompted by the fact that there has heed, an increase- in the number of .children who have been stricken by the disease, and increased difficulty in securing serum from, which such good results have been obtained in the past. “Why not inoculate me willi the (I sense in order to extract the serum!-’'’ says this woman in her letter —a woman of Polish descent who has spent many years in Australia, and who scom-i anxious to do something useful for ilia country of her adoption. “IT I were to die,” she says, ’'‘surely it would ho worth while to sacrifice one of my age, rather. than the health and lives ol I Idle children. J make this offer willingly, because I understand that the serum is the only cure, and it is unobtainable. I am wondering if this antitoxin can he artificially made. I have reared mv farnilv and I am not needoil at liomoi. 1 could l c inoculated with the disease from isomo child. If 1 contracted it I could he treated and the hospitals could get as much serum from me as they cared to ex-h-ict. Even if if inc’pae tate-d me for life, or killed me in the long run, the. sacrifice would be worth while."’

The woman tohl Dr. Arthur that sh-*. could never forget that Australia helped to fend the. starving people of her native Poland, and her mother s country, Belgium, during the Avar. “In what hotter wav,” she added, “could I honor the National Day of Poland than by thus serving Australia and the country of mv live children? I linvo nor the. means of paving for such an illness, and 1 could not risk g : viiig ; i to others at home Therefore I would have to ho treated in a public hospital. I hope, doctor, you Avill help me to serve the tiny A ll zao-i In- bringing the, sunshine of hone to the parents of the stricken ch’ldi'cn. The writer of this amazing letter is known personally to Dr. Arthur. It is* not the first occasion she In's displayed great interest in child welfare, for, as a member of the committee of the Sunshine Cluh. she lias done a great deal in arranging seaside holidays for countless Australian youngsters. Dr. Arthur is convinced hv his knowledge of the woman that the offer is a- perfectlv genuine' one. and he has been greatly impressed by the spirit of sacrifice that permeates it. However, an important princip'e is at stake, and he has not rushed in and hurriedly accepted the offer. But he has not rejected it. He is giving the letter the most serious consideration, and ivill be guided by expert medical advice in reaching a decision.