The Iron Lung

A hospital ward filled with patients in iron lungs

In 2008, Irene Odell, who had spent 60 of her 63 years in an iron lung after being stricken by polio died after a tragic power outage and generator failure. Read about it here: http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/29/nation/na-ironlung29

Irene Odell in her iron lung

Here is a link to a really good exhibit about the time when fears of polio swept the nation:

http://historical.hsl.virginia.edu/ironlung/