1945

Duke surgeon David Wilson invents “Wilson’s balls,” i.e., Lucite spheres used in treatment of pulmonary TB (cavitary TB of the upper lobe), whereby the spheres were implanted in a surgically created cavity under the ribs in the upper chest to sustain the collapse of a surgically collapsed lung (thoracotomy) (Namana). Keeping the infected lung at rest thought to promote healing and restoration of normal functioning. “Lucite’s ability to be shaped into complex curves made it an ideal material for plombage (from Latin plumbum [lead]). Supporting Wilson’s pioneering procedure, the university laboratory technicians at Duke set to work developing one-inch spheres – and trials began” (Gowing, ). Treatment complications included hemorrhage, infection, fistulization to bronchus, great vessels of thorax like the esophagus, and skin (Namana).