Both-type iron lung

Made:
1950-1955 in Blackfriars
maker:
D and J Fowler
Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung, London, England, 1950-1955 Both-type iron lung c
Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung c Both-type iron lung, London, England, 1950-1955 Both-type iron lung c

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung, London, England, 1950-1955
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington (see also part records)

Have you ever run so hard that you’re gasping for air? Been knocked over and ‘winded’? Those few scary seconds when you just can’t catch your breath? Imagine having that sensation all the time. When breathing becomes this difficult, a machine has to do it for you.

With just your head outside the machine, the iron lung forces air in and out of your lungs. Who needed this kind of treatment? Anyone who had weakness or paralysis of their respiratory muscles, of which polio was a major cause in the 1940s and 1950s. The disease could pass almost unnoticed, but at other times the virus attacked nerves controlling the muscles of breathing.

How long would you need to spend inside the iron lung? It could be days, weeks or even years. You might recover to breathe for yourself, or the damage could be permanent. Some patients stayed in iron lungs for the rest of their lives, accompanied by the constant ‘ker-swish’ sound of the machine.

Was it a lifesaver or a terrifying confinement? Death could be avoided, but you might fear being trapped in a ‘coffin’, forced to adapt your breathing, talking and eating to the rhythm of the machine. Iron lungs were used less and less as vaccination reduced the incidence of polio. But we’ll always need machines to help us breathe in some circumstances, think of modern day intensive care and life support.

Details

Category:
Therapeutics
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A683097
Materials:
frame, iron, fittings, aluminium, fittings, iron (chrome plated), labels, brass, trapdoors, wood, head rest, canvas, mattress, plastic and mattress, rubber, foam
Measurements:
overall: 1610 mm x 2270 mm x 870 mm,
type:
iron lung
credit:
Memorial Hospital Darlington

Parts

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 244 mm
width 314 mm
hole: diameter 89 mm
Materials:
facing, fabric, red rubberised and backing, rubber, sponge
Object Number:
A683097 Pt1
type:
neck rings
Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 245 mm
width 310 mm
hole: diameter 99 mm
Materials:
facing, fabric, red rubberised and backing, rubber, sponge
Object Number:
A683097 Pt2
type:
neck ring
Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 240 mm
width 310 mm
hole: diameter 117 mm
Materials:
facing, fabric, red rubberised and backing, rubber, sponge
Object Number:
A683097 Pt3
type:
neck ring
Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung

Neck ring associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 308 mm
width 361 mm
hole: diameter 126 mm
Materials:
facing, fabric, red rubberised , backing, rubber, sponge , zip fastener, metal and zip fastener, fabric
Object Number:
A683097 Pt4
type:
neck rings
Scaling strip associated with the Both-type iron lung

Scaling strip associated with the Both-type iron lung

Scaling strip associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 715 mm
overall: width 620 mm
strip: width 44 mm
Materials:
whole, rubber, red and whole, rubber (foam)
Object Number:
A683097 Pt5
type:
scaling strips
Rubber sheet associated with the Both-type iron lung

Rubber sheet associated with the Both-type iron lung

Rubber sheet associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 1760 mm
width 552 mm
Materials:
whole, fabric, red rubberised and edges, linen
Object Number:
A683097 Pt6
type:
rubber sheets
Rubber sheet associated with the Both-type iron lung

Rubber sheet associated with the Both-type iron lung

Rubber sheet associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 390 mm
width 340 mm
Materials:
whole, linen, filled and case, plastic, white
Object Number:
A683097 Pt7
type:
pillows
Mattress associated with the Both-type iron lung

Mattress associated with the Both-type iron lung

Mattress associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 1720 mm
width 530 mm
height 105 mm
Materials:
covering, plastic, dark green and content, rubber (foam)
Object Number:
A683097 Pt8
type:
mattresses
Pipe associated with the Both-type iron lung

Pipe associated with the Both-type iron lung

Pipe associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 1620 mm
diameter 80 mm
Materials:
whole, fabric, rubberised and reinforced
Object Number:
A683097 Pt9
type:
pipe
Pipe associated with the Both-type iron lung

Pipe associated with the Both-type iron lung

Pipe associated with the Both-type iron lung c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
length 1620 mm
diameter 80 mm
Materials:
whole, fabric, rubberised and reinforced
Object Number:
A683097 Pt10
type:
pipes
Pump associated with the Both-type iron lung

Pump associated with the Both-type iron lung

Pump, Smith-Clarke 'Senior' Pump unit, associated with the Both-type iron lung, serial number, 178 c.1950 presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington

Measurements:
overall: 137.5 kg
Materials:
body, iron , labels, brass , motor & fittings, metal and motor & fittings, rubber
Object Number:
A683097 Pt11
type:
pumps (machinery)
Both-type iron lung

Both-type iron lung

Both-type iron lung, presented by Viscount Nuffield to the Memorial Hospital Darlington (main cabinet), by D. and J. Fowler, 215-218 Mansion House Chambers, Queen Victoria Street, Blackfriars, London, England, 1950-1955.

Measurements:
overall: 1610 mm x 2270 mm x 870 mm,
Materials:
iron , aluminium , iron (chrome plated) , brass , wood , canvas , plastic , rubber and complete
Object Number:
A683097 Pt12
type:
ventilator

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