(bright music) - [Narrator] They don't want pity, they want a chance, that's all they ask.

These children at Hot Springs Polio Center, they don't feel sorry for themselves.

To them, this is a happy place, full of hope.

These children are eager and friendly, buoyant, filled with the urge to live full lives.

The day begins early for the youngsters at the center.

Cheerful nurses freshen up the little tots.

No wonder Bobby Ricks likes it, even to being washed behind the ears and having his hair brushed.

Older children, like Judy, can wash their own faces, brush their teeth, comb their hair, begin the day with a smile.

As soon as the children are spick and span, it's time for breakfast.

Donald Simpson of the Rapid City Air Base is eating his own breakfast.

Mm, tastes good, doesn't it?

But these children are not here for pastime.

Together with doctors, nurses, and technicians trained in all the newer techniques of physical therapy, they are fighting the bitter fight against the greatest of all cripplers of children today, infantile paralysis.

The odds are frequently desperate and the weapons often pitifully inadequate, but they don't want pity, they want a chance.

The great fight is to guard them against being crippled for life.

Each year, we are gaining in that fight.

The symptoms of infantile paralysis are fever, stomach and bowel trouble, stiffness in the back of the legs and neck with headache.

It is of the utmost importance that treatment begin early so it is often necessary to fly the children in and meet them with an ambulance.

Early in the disease, heat applied in various forms has been found most helpful.

One very successful method is to apply hot packs to the affected area every two hours, except during the night.

At first, the children often find it strange but the nurses soon win their confidence.

While not a great deal is known about medicines which specifically counteract the dread polio virus, for years, many investigators, skilled in research methods, have been engaged in an unrelenting search to find a cure.

As their findings are made known and verified, the doctors at Hot Springs Polio Center proceed to put them into practice.

Today, Darvisul injections have been found to be most effective.

It is one of the sulfur drugs.

And here we see Dr. Roper and Nurse Hough giving an injection to Lynn.

She will find that it gives her great relief.

Proper diet is of the utmost importance because we must keep up the fighting strength of these polio victims.

At times, it is necessary to watch the patient's weight carefully.

Since they are inactive, they frequently put on too many pounds.

There are many times when the poliovirus affects the chest and the throat.

In such cases, it is necessary to call on the iron lung and the use of oxygen, sometimes, even surgery to fight for the life of the patient.

Most polio patients are children and the nursing care has to be much more sympathetic and understanding than that required for patients suffering from other diseases.

Sometimes, they're so unhappy and it's necessary to win their confidence and cooperation in the fight to overcome the effects of polio.

Each child has to learn that he is the master of his own fate, but he isn't asking for pity, only a chance.

Some youngsters unfortunately never walk again without artificial aid.

It is then necessary to fit them with braces and crutches, but even then, they don't ask for pity, they only want a chance.

Polio patients stay in a hospital much longer than ordinary patients.

Keith and Marlene have been in this hospital for over two years.

A special teacher sees to it that the children's education is not neglected.

The children in this group don't have to worry that they will fall behind in their schoolwork.

Nancy Rounds isn't going to let anyone get ahead of her, here she is busily doing her homework.

While medical and nursing care are very important, it is even more necessary that doctors and nurses and attendants gain the friendship and confidence of the children.

Words of encouragement and helpful smiles can work wonders.

But in the last analysis, each child must fight his own battle, and these youngsters have the fighting spirit and the urge to live.

If given only half a chance, they'll make it.

And here's Judy practicing on her walker, learning all over again how to get around, and don't worry about her determination either, she's got it.

Not only are victims suffering from polio treated at the Polio Center, there are large numbers of children here crippled from other causes.

In the last 10 years, over 433 crippled children have received treatment in the hospital.

The little girl you'll see here with her leg in strap is Betty Blight.

She's a courageous youngster, and next Easter, you'll see her picture on the Easterseal, she's not downhearted.

But its facilities are pitifully inadequate to meet the need.

Last summer, an emergency building was completed at the Polio Center.

It was a godsend during the 1948 epidemic.

Yet, it is unfortunate that this unpretentious building should be the only haven of hope for the polio victims and crippled children of the West River Country.

With better facilities, there could be many more like Lynn Lightner, who joyfully go home after being cured.

But there is hope.

Here, Congressman Case, General Chairman Les Jensen, and Governor Mickelson are telling Mickey and Larry that a movement is underway to build a modern hospital for the unfortunate children of the West River area.

It is proposed to build this hospital for our unfortunate children.

It will make all the advances of modern medicine available to the unfortunate youngsters of West River Country and their parents.

The West River Country has been aroused to provide for its unfortunate children the same facilities available in other parts of America.

If these youngsters are not asking for pity, but only praying for a chance, we'll see that they get it.

Judge Rudisill, Chairman of Pennington County, and his committee are determined.

George Keenholtz, President of the South Dakota Society for Crippled Children has his mind set on it.

And that's why children like Harvey Campbell smile with hope as they look to the future.

(bright music)