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00:00My name is Conrad Steiner. I'm a doctor of medicine. Tonight's story has the title, Breath
00:11of Life. Guardian of birth, healer of the sick, comforter of the ancient. To the profession
00:25of medicine, to the men and women who labor in its cause, this story is dedicated.
00:41Our presentation tonight, the field of communicable diseases. The object in point, a respirometer.
00:48Case in point, Robert Alan Parker, M.D. Dr. Parker's married and has two children. At
00:5537 years of age, he's in the prime of life. He has a successful practice, which he's worked
01:00very hard to establish. And until a few weeks ago, he considered his most difficult struggles
01:04were behind him. But he developed a headache, stiff neck, slight fever. And within 72 hours,
01:13Robert Parker knew that the most critical struggle of his life had just begun. Watch
01:19his left arm. Keep it down at his side. Yes, doctor. All right, careful. Let's slide him
01:24in. You can't talk yet, Dr. Parker. Don't try. The air isn't reaching your vocal cords.
01:53All right, let's close it. Watch his arms. What's his vital capacity now? 950. He's gone
02:18down 100 cc's in the last hour. He's six feet one. We'll start him at 1618. Stay with him and
02:24keep checking the tidal layer. Shall I put him on a positive now? You're going to feel a lot
02:34better, doctor. Now just try to relax and let the respirator breathe for you. You can talk all right,
02:43doctor, but you'll have to learn to do it with the respirator. You can only talk when you breathe
02:48out. I want to see. Doctor. He's right here. How bad is it? It's a little early to tell, doctor.
03:08The respirator will give your chest muscles a chance to rest. You get some rest too. Hey,
03:14give me something. Let's see if we can get along without dropping your respiration any lower.
03:22What's he see now? Look, I'll make a deal with you. When my wife has a baby,
03:30I'll trust you with the delivery. That's your specialty. This is mine. Now you get some rest.
03:44How is he? All right at the moment. We haven't been a respirator. Then there's no question about
04:00it. It is polio. I'm Kenneth Lusk. I'm a friend of Dr. Parker and of Mrs. Parker. I'll be taking
04:07over his practice until he's well. Glad to know you, doctor. How does it actually look?
04:13It's bulbar. His vital capacity dropped under a thousand. We've done a tracheotomy, put him on
04:19positive pressure. You said you did a tracheotomy. Isn't that when you cut into the throat? The
04:24tracheotomy tube provides a short, convenient airway. We give him oxygen through it under slight
04:29pressure, and that gives him additional help with his breathing. When will you know if he's
04:33paralyzed? Mrs. Parker, polio is a virus infection. It attacks the nerves that control muscles.
04:42Sometimes it actually kills the nerves. But you always have to expect temporary muscle loss while
04:47the disease is acute. Well, isn't there anything you can do to stop it? Just keep him quiet and
04:53breathing until it's run its course. I have two children, doctor. What about them? They seem all
04:58right, don't they? No headache, nausea, stiff neck. I'll check them every day for a while.
05:06You may see him now if you like, but only for a few minutes.
05:09Ken, do you think I should? Go ahead. I'll wait here.
05:25Bob?
05:28Bob?
05:34Bob, I'm sorry. I came as soon as I heard. The children are fine. They sent their love.
05:42I told them they'd be seeing you real soon. That was stupid.
05:52You're gonna be all right. Everyone's pulling for you. They're doing everything they possibly can.
05:58Nobody can do anything.
06:02I'll make it myself. I'll finish it myself. Darling, please.
06:10I don't want sympathy.
06:15See the lawyer?
06:19See him? Bob, we'll talk about this later.
06:24Nothing's changed. You started this. You see it through.
06:33Can't you understand? It's not because of this, not because you're sick. I don't want to go
06:38through with it. I thought for one minute that you wanted me, that you needed me. I don't need you.
06:47I don't need anybody.
06:53I don't need you.
07:15George? You awake, George?
07:19Yeah.
07:21Can you see the kid?
07:26Asleep. Just crying in her sleep.
07:35Tough day. P.T. worked on her legs this afternoon.
07:42Just crying for her momma. Yeah, I guess.
07:50Catherine. Catherine. Catherine.
07:59Catherine. It's okay.
08:06You're all right, doctor. Please try to rest. I'm right in the room if you need me.
08:13That's right, doc. Rest. That's what they keep saying. How do you feel, doc?
08:23Nurses are very polite. Always a sure sign it's a doctor.
08:31Take it easy, doc. First hundred years, hardest.
08:38Cut it out, George.
08:42It's tough enough in the beginning.
08:46Nurse is right, doc. Sleep is the best thing.
08:52I can't sleep now. I can't move. Can you?
08:58I got both legs. I'm just a new boy. Too much.
09:05You. Can you move?
09:08Sure thing. Got an arm. It's been coming back for a month now.
09:17I'm a machinist, doc. I'll be right back.
09:28Hear that? Sweetest sound in the world.
09:34How long has it been? Long enough so as I'm used to it.
09:42How long? He's been here nine months.
09:49God. You're wrong, doc.
09:54Iron lung's my friend. I'd be dead without it.
09:59I'd be dead without it. Better that way.
10:05Better to die. You won't feel that way.
10:11In a couple of days. Besides, how'd you do it?
10:17You couldn't kill a fly sitting on the end of your nose.
10:29Hello, Bob. How are you doing?
10:33I'm taking good care of your practice.
10:36Haven't lost one of your patients yet.
10:39Catherine's been calling. She's outside now.
10:45Look, Bob, this is none of my business, but why don't you see her?
10:51That's right. There's nothing I can do.
10:55That's right. None of your business.
11:01I've been thinking clearly. If I'm paralyzed, I'm gonna kill myself.
11:11You take practice. You give Catherine settlement.
11:15Don't go throwing in the towel. Let me send Catherine in.
11:25I'll see you later.
11:37I didn't really think he'd see me. I left him, Ken.
11:41That's pretty hard to forgive.
11:45I understand about being a doctor's wife. I understood when I married him.
11:52I've seen him go days with just an hour or so of sleep.
11:56There were other men that could have taken over, good, competent obstetricians,
12:00but he wouldn't trust anyone else. He wouldn't be dependent on anyone else.
12:06It's an obsession. He wouldn't let my father give us a church wedding.
12:10Only as a great concession, he let me keep the clothes I had.
12:14But everything else, he had to make himself.
12:19All his own way.
12:21Well, he did it.
12:25For whatever good it's doing him now.
12:29And I love him, Ken.
12:33I love him so much.
12:41He's taking it just about as hard as I've ever seen anyone take it, Mrs. Parker.
12:46Some of them cry, go to pieces pretty badly. But at least it's a release.
12:50Bob wouldn't cry. That's a confession of weakness.
12:54He won't even live except on his own terms.
12:58Ken told me he's talking about suicide now.
13:00A lot of them go through that.
13:02But he certainly won't be able to do anything about it for the next few days.
13:06I don't know how much you know about polio, Mrs. Parker,
13:10but as his fever mounts, his dependence on the respirator will become total.
13:15The crucial phase of the battle during the acute period is to combat respiratory failure.
13:21The respirator will do the job which his paralyzed chest muscles can no longer perform.
13:27The trachea must be suctioned frequently to keep it clear of mucus
13:31so that the respirator can perform its function.
13:39Since his paralyzed throat muscles will not permit him to swallow,
13:44he will have to go through a levine tube which leads through the nose into the stomach.
13:48No specific treatment or medication can cure polio in its acute stage.
13:54Much of the watching and waiting is the job of the nurses and physical therapists.
13:58Under the physician's supervision, they maintain the respirator pressure
14:02and check the vital capacity, the temperature, and the pulse.
14:08Up or down?
14:13You can give me the reading. You can give me the reading. I'm a doctor.
14:17If you can yell that loud, you know the answer yourself, doctor.
14:21When a sick patient gets cranky, he's getting better.
14:25How do you feel? Pain pretty severe?
14:29John's going to put you in hot packs for a while.
14:33My arms and legs are gone. I can't move at all.
14:37We can't tell anything for sure until we complete a muscle check tomorrow.
14:42All I want you to do is rest.
14:46That's right. All right, John, full treatment.
14:50Hey, Doc, I remember my first check.
14:56Everybody in the ward watching to see if I was going to pass.
15:00When she got through, she says,
15:04Clifton, you're a very lucky man.
15:08Your legs aren't too bad.
15:12With a lot of hard work, you may have arms, too.
15:18Anybody could see that's a pretty lucky man.
15:22Couldn't they, Doc?
15:26You, uh...
15:30You ever give your patients that kind of guff, Doc?
15:35I mean, some woman comes in
15:39to you sick.
15:43You ever tell her she's lucky it ain't leprosy?
15:47Why don't you knock it off, Clifton?
15:51I just think it's funny, that's all.
15:55Having a doc in here.
15:59Doc, don't pay attention to him.
16:04It's been nine months.
16:08That's a lot longer than most.
16:12It's not so bad.
16:16Except maybe a little bit on Sundays.
16:20We used to go on a picnic on Sundays.
16:24Wife, kids.
16:28Pack a lunch and just take off.
16:33You like picnics, Doc?
16:37Never had time for one.
16:41Sometimes I wouldn't go no place in particular.
16:45Beach, maybe.
16:49Maybe just drive.
16:53Bet the kids miss it, too.
16:57You sure get to needin' your kids.
17:01Put your mind to it. You don't need anybody.
17:05When John Henry
17:09was a
17:13little boy
17:17sittin' on his
17:21daddy's knee
17:25pointed down to the ground
17:29had a small piece of steel
17:33sayin' that'll be the death
17:37of me
17:41Lord, that's...
17:45You're getting better every day, Susie.
17:49Prettier, too.
17:53How are you today, Paul?
17:57Fine, Dr. Quirrell. How are the arms starting to come back?
18:01Very interesting. Why don't we check it, Miss Blakeney?
18:09Make a fist.
18:27Well, Paul, that's something to work on anyway.
18:31Hello, Doctor. How are you doing?
18:35Gonna do muscle checking. Right now. Mrs. Ackley.
18:39What are you doing?
18:43We're going to take you out of the respirator so the physical therapist can make a thorough check.
18:47I can't breathe. Don't worry. If you have any trouble, we'll put you right back.
18:57All right.
19:01I'm all right.
19:05Let's get started.
19:09Now, Doctor, we'll start with your right arm.
19:13Move your fingers, please.
19:17Just relax. Concentrate on making a fist.
19:27You certainly got something to work with there.
19:31Now the wrist.
19:35How far can you bend your elbow?
19:47Now let's try the left one.
19:51Make a fist.
19:55Now the wrist.
20:11Now try and bend the elbow.
20:15Very good.
20:19Touch your right shoulder.
20:23You got a perfectly good arm there, Doctor.
20:27Bring it down to your side and we'll check your legs.
20:39Pull up the toes of your right foot.
20:47Fine.
20:51Fine. Now push your hand away.
20:55Try it again, Doctor.
20:59I can't.
21:03Raise the leg.
21:07Now can you hold it there?
21:11Let's try the other one.
21:21The foot, Doctor. The toes.
21:27Raise your leg.
21:35That's enough for today. Let's get you back.
21:39No point in overdoing it just as you're coming back.
21:51Not bad, is it?
21:55You're a very lucky man, Doctor.
21:59With some work, both arms should be fine.
22:03Without the bedside manner, will I be able to walk?
22:07Yes. Possibly not as well as before.
22:11You may need braces for a while, but you'll walk.
22:15There's a lot that can be done for you, Doctor.
22:19I've seen the work of useless ones.
22:23Before long, you'll be out of the respirator and we can really go to work on you.
22:31Thank you very much.
22:43Bob, they just told me you'll be able to walk.
22:47Sure.
22:51I'll be able to live.
22:55I want you to go through with the divorce.
22:59This wasn't in the marriage contract.
23:03Bob, listen to me. I didn't marry your legs. I married you.
23:07If you had to spend the rest of your life in this thing, I'd still want you.
23:11I mean, if you want me.
23:15Do you, Bob?
23:35How are the kids?
23:39They're fine.
23:43I knew I had a good reason for loving you.
23:59I'm going to get them to start the exercises today.
24:03I'm going to work harder than I've ever worked.
24:07I'm going to walk perfectly. You'll see.
24:13I'm going to beat this thing.
24:21I'm going to need a lot of help.
24:25I'm going to need all the help I can get.
24:29Catherine.
24:33Darling.
24:37Darling.
24:43You have witnessed the treatment of the disease in its acute stage.
24:47Actually, few polio victims suffer permanent disability.
24:51An extremely small percentage die.
24:55Although to date there is no cure, poliomyelitis will eventually be conquered.
24:59For any needless death represents defeat to a profession dedicated to life.
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