One hundred years ago today, William Conant was in severe distress near Decatur and the Lungmotor was sent to his rescue a little late. William Conant died of cariaic (sic) cardiac asthma as a result.
What was the Lungmotor?? This instrument was an early form of artificial respiration. On June 24, 1914 the New York Times recorded the incidence of a Lungmotor being demonstrated at the beach when an accidental drowning occurred. The victim was brought to shore and revived by the instrument.
Bloomington acquired a lungmotor for use at Miller Park August 6, 1914. The cost was $135 but it was thought to be well worth the expense. One instrument that was frequently confused with the Lungmotor was the Pulmotor. The Lungmotor was used to revive drowned or suffocated victims, but the Pulmotor had chemicals which revived a victim of smoke inhalation. In 1915 the fire chief was urging the fire department to purchase new equipment that would include the Lungmotor and the Pulmotor. As seen in the photo, the Lungmotor had a canister of oxygen that was administered to the victim.
A story on March 18, 1914 cited the revival of Mrs. Alfred Smoke In Decatur. The Lungmotor was used on her for 45 minutes before she was revived. Another story from Rock Island told of an 80 year old woman revived with a Lungmotor. The Champaign paper reported 3 occassions when the Lungmotor was used successfully.
The Lungmotor was attempted on at least one occassion in Bloomington, but the child had drown in a ten gallon jar of water and could not be revived.
In 1927 the Lungmotors in hospitals were being replaced with instruments that administered 95% oxygen from tanks under more measured means than used with the Lungmotor.