LIFE IN "IRON LUNG"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23112, 10 August 1938, Page 16

LIFE IN "IRON LUNG"

CHICAGO MAN'S PROGRESS IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITION Tho progress toward recover}' of Frederick B. Snite, jun., of Chicago, who has constantly lived in an "iron lung" since he was stricken by infantile paralysis of the acute respiratory type while visiting China on March 30, 1936, is described in the July issue of the Eotarian. The two years he lias lived in respirators include a period when he travelled by train, ship and truck from Peiping, China, to Chicago. Meticulous arrangements were made for the 9300 miles journey, which cost 50,000 dollars, the patient being accompanied by doctors, Chinese nurses and other attendants in addition to his family. It is stated that the patient can now remain outside the big respirator for 23 minutes at a time and that he can breathe comfortably for two hours daily in a. smaller "iron lung" which covers only his chest. According to the Potarian, available details indicate that the record for residence in an iron lung is held by Birdsail Sweet, of New York, a youth who has been using a respirator of this type since September, 1931. After contracting infantile paralysis, he remained at first in the respirator for 24 hours a day, but since 1935 he has dispensed with tho equipment except while sleeping.