[2][3][4] Public health care in Milwaukee began with the creation of pesthouses during early epidemics and a quarantine hospital in 1877.

In 1880 the county built a general hospital at the poor farm in Wauwatosa, but distance was an obstacle for many residents.

Around the turn of the century community leaders began to raise funds for a full-service general public hospital, but it was controversial, opposed by Marquette University.

[2] Finally built in 1927 and 1928, the Milwaukee County Dispensary and Emergency Hospital functioned from 1928 until June 1983.

At that time Dr. Edgar End began using the chamber to experiment with artificial breathing mixtures to overcome the problems associated with deep diving.