The iron lung, a life-saving device used to treat polio, was invented in 1927 and revolutionized the treatment of this debilitating disease. The device, which used negative pressure to force air into the lungs, was a crucial tool in the fight against polio, which affected millions of people worldwide. With the development of the polio vaccine in 1955, the use of the iron lung declined, but it remains an important reminder of the progress made in medical innovation and the impact of disease on society.
[... more]