Nuffield Satisfied With Iron Lung as Life Saver

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 9

Nuffield Satisfied With Iron Lung as Life Saver

(Received 12 Noon.) LONDON, January 13. “IF I WAITED TO PRODUCE THE PERFECT CAR, I WOULD BE BANK- * RUPT. WE MUST GET ON WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE IRON LUNG, AND IMPROVE IT AS WE PROCEED.” This was Viscount Nuffield's reply when told that experiments would probably result in improvements in the present iron lung, writes Professor Robert Reynolds Macintosh, now Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetics at Oxford University, in a letter in the British Medical Journal. He was replying to Sir Frederick Menzies. medical officer of health to the London County Council, who introduced iron lungs to Britain. Sir Frederick, in a recent letter to o

the British Medical Journal, said respirators were passing through a stage of evolution, in which “we are learning constantly, and it is the height of folly at present to standardise any one type.” He added that he hoped it was not too late to prevent such wanton waste of benevolence. Would Three Lives be Saved? Professor Macintosh now reveals that Lord Nuffield consulted him, asking if there was a reasonable prospect of three lives being saved if many

hospitals throughout the Empire had iron lungs. “When I answered in the affirmative, he said ‘l’ll immediately order 1000. It seems a pity to think that some may be used as coal scuttles, but more tragic to think that a life had been lost because I had not spent £25 to £3o.’ ” “Have Seen What They Can Do.” In a message from Capetown, it is reported that Lord Nuffield, replying to Sir Frederick Menzies, said: ‘Tve seen what iron lungs can do, and I am satisfied. It is the youngsters I want to help.”