American inventor and researcher (1894–1972) whose studies in industrial hygiene led to the development of the first widely used iron lung. Glossy 8 x 10 halftone photo featuring Drinker standing over a cat contained in a miniature iron lung, signed and inscribed in ballpoint, “First iron lung experiment, 1927, To John Heil with best regards, Philip Drinker, Aug. 26, 1967.” Drinker has also added a note on the reverse, which he signs with his initials: “This is actually of inaccurate date origin. This experiment I did in 1928 & described it in a technical paper. Then Life magazine took photos in 1935 of a lot of things going on at Harvard & asked me to reconstruct this particular incident. In the photo the cat was as dead as a mackerel, but who’s to tell on me?” In very good condition, with writing on front light but fully legible, a few small creases and surface marks, and a hint of mild toning to reverse. Unusual! R&R COA.
