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U of T Antitoxin Laboratory
Dr. John FitzGerald of the U of T contributed greatly to the prevention of tetanus disease and other diseases caught by soldiers in the Great War (Taylor, 2014). His success in creating vaccines and other cures led to the opening of the U of T Antitoxin Laboratory, Connaught Laboratories (Taylor, 2014). The creation of insulin, development of open-heart surgeries, organ transplants, and cures for diseases (i.e. polio) were discovered here (Taylor, 2014). -
Use of Helium Gas
A British organization realized that the airships filled with hydrogen got set on fire by enemies (Brown, 2000). Sir R. Threlfall and Sir E. Rutherford determined that airships can use helium if there was enough on Earth. Later, Sir J.C McLennan’s experiments proved that enough helium can be extracted from natural gases (Brown, 2000). The discovery of the use of helium led to the many uses of it today (i.e. respiratory treatment, MRI magnets, computer chips, high speed internet, etc.). -
Invention of Smoke Helmets
When Germany used poison gas in the Ypres battles, Cluny MacPherson, of Canada, took the helmet of a German prisoner and added eyepieces and a tube for breathing, creating a smoke helmet (most protective device in WW1) to defend soldiers (Bellis, 2020). He put chemical sorbents on the helmet that prevented the chlorine gas from burning soldiers' skin, eyes, and and hurting their lungs.This was the beginning of many protective masks used today (i.e. by firefighters). -
Blood Transfusion
When soldiers were wounded and kept losing great amounts of blood, Maj. Lawrence Roberts of the Canadian Medical Corps decided to do several blood transfers (Ubelacker, 2014). Despite transfusions of differing blood types, this tripled the survival rates (Ubelacker, 2014). Since this portrayed the benefits of blood transfusion and how it saves lives, it’s a key factor in the medicine industry today. -
Discovery of Insulin
At the University of Toronto, in 1921, Dr. Frederick Banting initiated an experiment to find a way to prevent diabetes (Bliss, 2015). Alongside Charles Best, J.B. Collip, and J.J.R. Macleod, he discovered insulin (Bliss, 2015). Using a dog in their experiment, Banting realized that the islet cells of the pancreas keeps on producing a substance, which could be injected into the body to treat/prevent diabetes, which was insulin (Bliss, 2015). -
Invention of Fathometer
In 1923, Reginald A. Fessenden invented the fathometer, which helped measure the depth of waters and detect enemies’ submarines in WW1 (Potts, 1996). In WW1, when the use of submarines was increasing, the fathometer allowed soldiers to fight against them, as the fathometer had the ability to detect and locate underwater objects. It contributed to the development of sonars and other underwater devices/technology we benefit from today. -
First Alternating Current Radio/Vacuum Tube
In 1925, Edward S.(Ted) Rogers invented the first AC (alternating current) radio/vacuum tube (Rogers Experimental Tube 15S) that was powered by current in houses (Bradburn, 2015). To avoid acid leaks and poor reception by batteries used to power radios, he created a vacuum tube with a hum-free insulator for the tube’s filament (Bradburn, 2015). This tube was a starting point in today’s methods of communication; television, radio, phones, etc. -
Snowblowers Were Invented
In 1925, Arthur Sicard invented a snow blower which makes snow removal faster and easier for Canadians today (Nderi, 2016). His invention was a truck with a chute that threw snow, and a motor to propel snow (Nderi, 2016). The snow was either thrown aside or put in the back of the truck and taken away (Nderi, 2016). -
The Variable Pitch Propeller
The variable pitch propeller, which was invented by Wallace Rupert Turnbull in 1927, allowed pilots to shift the angle at which the propeller blades cut the air (Phillipson, 2015). It provided a great amount of safety and efficiency at different engine speeds (Phillipson, 2015). He designed it so that feathering can be used to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency (Phillipson, 2015). This invention contributed to the development of more efficient and safer aircraft.
