On the 15th of May, 1929, hundreds of doctors,
nurses and patients were going about their business in the outpatient building of the
Cleveland Clinic - a modern (and in some ways revolutionary) healthcare center in Cleveland,
Ohio. At around 11:30am the upper floors of the clinic were suddenly flooded with a thick
yellowish-brown gas. Those who inhaled it were dead within moments, never knowing or
understanding exactly what had killed them. The Cleveland Clinic opened its doors
to patients on the 28th of February, 1921. It was very much ahead of its time.
The clinic was a single not-for-profit organization that would be a base of operations
for professionals with a range of specialties. Its mission was to provide patient care, education
and opportunities for valuable medical research. In this it was certainly successful. Among many
other contributions, the Cleveland Clinic helped to revolutionize the treatment of people with
diabetes by making use of the, then relatively new, drug insulin. It was also consistently at
the forefront of cardiac medicine, while at the same time pushing relentlessly for better, more
comfortable conditions for patients in wards. Year on year the Cleveland Clinic grew, going
from a single building to a complex of several, including a four-storey outpatient
clinic along with an adjoining hospital and several houses designed to provide
lodgings for patients undergoing long-term treatment. For eight years the Cleveland
Clinic was an extraordinary force for good in the world. The 15th of May, 1929, began
just like any other day at the clinic. The outpatient building was busy, filled with
doctors, nurses, patients and visitors. Being an outpatient building meant that there were no
wards or beds. Everyone attending the clinic that day was there for investigations or treatments
that would see them home again by the evening. The fire began down in a sub-basement room
which was used to store x-ray film. In 1929, x-rays made use of nitrocellulose film - a
volatile substance that could easily catch fire. Moreover, when it burned it produced poisonous
gases, and resisted the use of water to extinguish any flames. In fact, immersing burning
nitrocellulose film in water would usually only increase the production of poisonous gases.
The exact cause of the fire is uncertain, but many sources blame an unprotected light bulb
that was situated too close to a stack of film. Whatever the cause, once at least
some of the film had ignited the rest soon followed, creating a powerful blaze
which produced huge quantities of poisonous gas. This gas seeped slowly up into the building
proper, initially going largely unnoticed. Its progress was slow enough to
cause no disruption or alarm. As the fire consumed more film, however, the
situation worsened significantly: caches of film ignited en masse, resulting in two explosions -
the blasts from which not only severely damaged the fabric of the building, but also had the
deadly effect of blasting the gas through pipes, doors, vents and conduits into every part of the
building. Now, rather than seeping slowly up from the basement, the gas was everywhere. Doctors and
nurses were killed before being able to rise from their desks. Patients died in moments, having
scarcely registered the presence of the gas. It enveloped people so quickly that they often had no
time to even think about escaping. An Associated Press report from the day detailed the conditions
that were found in the aftermath of the disaster: "Surgical equipment lay ready for use in the
examining rooms. In the x-ray developing room a roll of film was stretched to dry. A wheelchair
with the blanket thrown aside blocked a balcony overlooking the waiting room. A stenographer's
half-finished letter was found in an office. Everything was abandoned as the victims realized too late that the brown fumes curling through
door casings and along the halls carried death." Passers-by outside the hospital heard the
explosions and rushed to help... only to be struck down by the gas themselves, or to find themselves
quite unable to render aid to those inside. "The fumes were so strong as to act almost
instantly. Pedestrians caught outside the building fell to the ground and lay unconscious until
dragged to safety when the gas lifted. One woman smashed a third-floor window and was preparing
to leap as firemen spread a life net. She stood poised. The amber gas swirled about her shoulders,
and she collapsed... falling inside the building." Rescuers converged on the clinic, but their
efforts were hampered by the lingering gas. One witness reported being overcome when still
almost a city block away from the clinic. Police, ambulance and fire personnel had to get
much closer than that if they were to have any hope of rescuing anybody. In many cases it
was only when the gas had dissipated that a rescue could be made, although several people were
willing to risk - and indeed sacrifice - their own lives in order to drag patients to safety.
Policeman Ernest Staab, just 30 years old, entered the building again and again, despite
visible fumes still hanging in the air. He dragged 21 people away from the
choking vapor before he was overcome and passed away. Though he gave his life
in the course of affecting a rescue, several of those he dragged from
the building went on to survive. In the aftermath of the disaster the clinic was
devastated. The building was severely damaged from the explosions, and it looked as though
operations could not possibly continue... until a local philanthropist, Samuel Mather,
stepped in and provided alternate premises nearby. This meant that the Cleveland Clinic could
continue treating patients, including those who had suffered serious damage to their lungs from
inhaling even tiny amounts of the poisonous gas. In many cases recovery was a slow and painful
process, if it was possible at all. Patients were given oxygen, but often this was not sufficient,
with some victims dying weeks after the disaster. In total the incident claimed the lives of
123 people and severely injured many more. In the aftermath of the disaster, and as the
cause could not be positively identified, it was found that the hospital was
not at fault. The way in which the x-ray film had been stored was in line
with what was required at the time. To address this, the guidelines for the storage of
not just film but many other hazardous materials were revised. The horror of the Cleveland Clinic
disaster had so captured the public's attention that this reform extended beyond Ohio, and
was applied nationwide - something which may well have prevented numerous other disasters.
Ultimately the Cleveland Clinic would survive. The building was completely renovated and
restored, and remains in place to this day. Now, however, it's part of a sprawling
complex of medical facilities. The Cleveland Clinic has grown from a handful
of buildings to a huge campus, and has further establishments all over the city and beyond.
It's one of the best-rated hospitals in America, and is consistently among the best in the world
for cardiac care. In line with its original ethos, it provides patient care, teaching
facilities and opportunities for research... but on a scale which its founders could never
possibly have imagined. The Cleveland Clinic disaster is a footnote in its history - a tragic
series of events that cost 123 people their lives. The clinic has gone on, however, to save and
transform the lives of hundreds of thousands.
TLDW: In 1929 a fire started in the basement caused by an exposed light bulb being too close to cellulose film used for x rays. 123 people died.
Safety improvements are born in blood.
Love this channel. All his content is great
The music on this channel always creeps me out
I built a new Cleveland Clinic facility that connected to an old one. It was about a 5 year project, and before it was over there was a fire at the existing facility. This historical event came to mind.
The new ones are very well built though. I did all of the Fireproofing and Passive Fire Protection on this one, and have a great attention to detail.
I love this guy's channel. Does a good job with research and delivery
Maaaaannnnn I was trying to remember the name of this channel! Thank you!
that fucking horrible. jesus christ.