Yale New Haven Health | Throwback Thursday: Breathing exercises

iron lung

In 1950, student nurses were taught how to use the iron lung, which allowed patients whose chest muscles were paralyzed by polio to breathe. The iron lung worked by applying and reducing air pressure, which forced the lungs to expand and contract.

Photo courtesy of the YNHH Archives. To donate materials to the Archives, contact Susan Dee, 203-688-5450, or [email protected].

The Bulletin

June 23, 2016

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