The Iron Lung: A Mechanical Miracle of the Polio Era

A Deadly Epidemic

The polio epidemic occurred between 1948 and 1955. Large gatherings were avoided, and often children were kept isolated from their friends. The epidemic and the effects of the disease left many feeling helpless and terrified.

The disease’s impact was devastating, often leaving those infected with paralysis or lifelong disabilities. Many communities grew acustum to the sight of children in leg braces or confined to iron lungs, a stark reminder of the epidemic's toll.

How Does It Work?

How does the iron lung work, you ask? It’s not as straightforward as it may sound.

The iron lung was developed in 1927 at the Harvard School of Public Health by Philip Drinker and Louis Agassiz Shaw. The first clinical use occurred in 1928. The iron lung was originally brought about as a solution for coal-gas poisoning but would become best known for aiding polio victims. 

The iron lung creates an airtight chamber with a patient's head outside, sealed by a collar around the neck. The lung is powered by an electric motor and operates on external negative pressure ventilation. This process involves sucking air out of the chamber to expand the patient's lungs with oxygen and then letting air back in for exhalation. This method kept patients alive by facilitating breathing when their bodies were otherwise unable to do so. 

For most polio cases, patients were only in the iron lung for a few weeks. These days, with the increase in ventilators, the iron lung is almost nonexistent.

Wanting More?

See a piece of medical history and get up close with a vintage iron lung at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando .

There is always something new to discover at Ripley’s! With rotating exhibits, exciting events, and unique experiences, you can always expect the unexpected!