IRON LUNGS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 November 1938, Page 9

IRON LUNGS

FOR EVERY HOSPITAL IN EMPIRE LORD NUFFIELD’S ANNOUNCEMENT 5,01)0 TO BE READY BY MARCH CU.P.A.-Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright! (Received 24th November. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON. 23rd November. Lord Nuffield announced that he is providing: every hospital and institution throughout the Empire with an iron lung of Australian design, of which it is expected that 5000 will he required to be available by March. 1339. The cost is estimated a.t £500,000. "My immediate concern is the saving . of life." declared Lord Nuffield. ‘‘The

largest hospitals will receive three or four, and every institution throughout the Empire is entitled to one, regardless of its whereabouts." Questioned regarding Australia and New Zealand, he replied that there might be a difficulty, but if they wanted one it must be supplied. The iron lung is designed by a South Australian, Mr E. T. Both, and owes its creation to the Australian paralysis epidemic last year. Arrangements for its manufacture for Lord Nuffield have been made through Mr Both and the Adelaide firm of D. and J. Fowler, who are undertaking to service the apparatus for 20s annually. The requirements of the dominions and colonies will be ascertained from their agents-general, and the recipients will be required to pay the cost of transport from Oxford. DESIGNER VISITS LONDON The designer, Mr E. T. Both, visited London from Adelaide with a patent device for measuring heartbeats. He 1 heard a radio SOS for an iron lung and offered the London County Council a | design, which, as a result of the epidemic, enabled South Australia to manufacture it at half the price of the American patent. The South Australian Agent-General arranged for a window display, and inquiries concerning the device were received from all over the world. A hospital drew the attention of Lord Nuffield to the matter and he invited Mr Both to interview him, undertaking to manufacture the iron lung at the Morris works at perhaps one-tenth of the present cost and onethirtieth of the cost of the American type. Lord Nuffield is making 1000 immediately for presentation to British hospitals, and is thereafter making gifts to hospitals throughout the Empire. ISOLATED HOSPITALS Lord Nuffield added that he was most concerned about isolated hospitals, such as Australian and Canadian, where there was a long time between the call for apparatus and its arrival. The new iron lung costs £9B and consists largely of five-ply wood. Its lightness reduces the transport problem. Lord Nuffield’s benefactions in recent years are now nearly £ 13,000,000. The iron lung could be used by patients at home, as it was easy to handle, with simple airtight devices and a zipfastened rubber collar. The London County Council has improved the waistcoat for convalescents, designed by Professor Burstall, of Melbourne, who declined to patent it on the grounds of its humanitarian value. The new design consists of two pieces, adjustable to fit any patient. It willj cost, with an electric pump, £3O. j It is understood that Lord Nuffield will shortly again visit Australia.