It Takes Your Breath Away (British Medical Association, 1964)

The effect on the lungs of living in a polluted atmosphere is briefly shown on pathological specimens. Two patients are seen, one of whom had to change his job on account of reduced respiratory capacity due to bronchitis. This film uses very evocative footage of polluted city centres and inner city housing ; showing widespread burning of fossil fuels in industry and the home, as well as a hospital. The results are smutty deposits over everything. Comparisons are made between Social Class 1, who can afford to live in the clean suburbs and Social Class 5, who victim to respiratory disease through constant exposure to pollution. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/NLM-UID Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films