Dr. John Gorrie and His Amazing Inventions When a disease is widespread it is considered to be an epidemic. Medical interventions become necessary in order to prevent diseases from spreading even further. Dr. John Gorrie did not only stepped in but also through his exploration and encounters with refrigeration was able to impact the way diseases are controlled today. Before the ice making machine and the refrigerator were invented, Dr. Gorrie conducted research and worked in various places. Gorrie was not only an inventor, but also a doctor, scientist, and humanitarian. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City in 1825 (Meir 167-173). In the early 1820’s Dr. Gorrie studied tropical diseases, that influenced him to move to Apalachicola in 1833. Before he moved to Apalachicola, Gorrie served as a mayor, postmaster, city treasurer, council member, bank director, and founder of the Trinity Church (www.fcit.usf.edu). When he was living in Florida he urged draining the swamps, clearing weeds, and maintaining clean food markets in the city (fcit.usf.edu). Gorrie realized that a cold
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John Gorrie decided to construct his invention, the ice making machine. Gorrie’s experimenting with refrigeration lasted for five years. After this, he decided to work on the refrigerator full time and gave up being a doctor. Gorrie wanted to make this machine mechanical. Gorrie said, “If the air were compressed, it would heat up by the energy of compression. If this compressed air were run through metal pipes cooled with water, and if this air cooled to the water temperature was expanded down to atmospheric pressure again, very low temperatures could be obtained, even low enough to freeze water in pans in a refrigerator box.” (www.wired.com). It was now time for him to promote his ice. At a party he surprises his guests with his artificial ice when the real ice ran out. Finally, Gorrie decides to patent his invention Number 8080, in
John Gorrie decided to construct his invention, the ice making machine. Gorrie’s experimenting with refrigeration lasted for five years. After this, he decided to work on the refrigerator full time and gave up being a doctor. Gorrie wanted to make this machine mechanical. Gorrie said, “If the air were compressed, it would heat up by the energy of compression. If this compressed air were run through metal pipes cooled with water, and if this air cooled to the water temperature was expanded down to atmospheric pressure again, very low temperatures could be obtained, even low enough to freeze water in pans in a refrigerator box.” (www.wired.com). It was now time for him to promote his ice. At a party he surprises his guests with his artificial ice when the real ice ran out. Finally, Gorrie decides to patent his invention Number 8080, in