864 Experiments 



Experiment DXXXI. July 17. Dog of Experiment DXXIX and 

 Experiment DLXXI (slow decompression). 



From 1:36 to 2 o'clock, taken to 6 atmospheres; left 30 min. 



Decompressed in 2 minutes; comes out in good condition, shakes 

 himself, and walks very well. No symptom. 



Experiment DXXXII. July 22. Dog. 



From 5:30 to 6:10 taken to 6V2 atmospheres. I then draw blood 

 from which no free gases escape in the syringe. However this blood 

 contains 7.7% of nitrogen. At 6:40, reached 8V2 atmospheres; decom- 

 pressed in 3 minutes. At 6:50, I draw blood from the carotid; this 

 blood contains 2% of nitrogen. 



The animal has remained fastened on the operating table; while 

 sewing up the wound in the neck, I see bubbles of air in the jugular; 

 it begins then to take deep breaths, which end in death at 7:15. No 

 gas is found in the blood of the right or left heart; but there are nu- 

 merous bubbles in all the little veins of the general and the portal 

 systems. The stomach is enormously distended; 550 cc. of gas is drawn 

 from it; the intestine contains much gaseous froth and is swollen 

 with it. 



Experiment DXXXI1I. July 24. Dog of Experiment DXXXI. 

 From 3:30 to 3:55, taken to 6 atmospheres; left 2 hours under a 

 current of air. Decompressed in 2 minutes, no symptom. 



Experiment DXXX1V. July 25. Dog of preceding experiment. 



From 2 o'clock to 2:45, taken to 7 atmospheres. 



Decompressed immediately in 2 minutes: jumps alone from the 

 top of the apparatus. Five minutes after, falls on its side, its hind- 

 quarters paralyzed; sensitivity much dulled. The front feet are in 

 forced extension and quiver at each breath. 



July 27. Complete paraplegia of movement; muscles relaxed; 

 tail and feet insensible, but with reflex movements of the tail. The 

 anal sphincter is relaxed, but the introduction of a thermometer pro- 

 vokes violent reflex movements; temperature 39.5°. Bladder para- 

 lyzed; when the belly is pressed, the urine issues in jerky spurts; it 

 overflows regularly; no sugar. 



August 1. The animal has remained lying on its right side; the 

 paralysis has made ascending progress; the ribs are motionless, and 

 the respiration is purely diaphragmatic; we then see clearly the lifting 

 of the lower ribs by the diaphragm. 



On pinching the right hind foot, it draws away, as does the tail: 

 no movement in the left hind foot. The left sciatic, when exposed 

 and pinched vigorously, causes some slight movements in the flexor 

 muscles of the leg, but the animal feels nothing. The right sciatic 

 gives marked movements, and the animal shows pain when it is 

 pinched. The muscles tested by electricity require for contraction a 

 current a little stronger on the left than on the right, which is no 

 doubt due to the different action of the nerves. The toes of the hind 

 feet, when taken in the hands, are warmer than the toes of the front 

 feet; the latter are sensitive and are drawn away when pinched. The 

 anal sphincter contracts convulsively when touched; the rectal temper- 



