870 Experiments 



Experiment DLXII. May 24. Large spaniel. 



(Experiment made before the Committee of the Academy of 

 Sciences.) 



Compression raised to 8V2 atmospheres, and decompression made 

 in 2 minutes. 



The dog appears gay and runs about wagging his tail. After a 

 few minutes, he sits down and becomes sad. Some minutes later, he 

 falters on his front legs and falls down. 



Gurgles can be heard in the right heart. 



The animal seems to be in great pain and bites violently at what- 

 ever is held out to him. He soon dies. 



Gas in fine bubbles in the whole venous system; none in the 

 arteries. 



Experiment DLXIII. June 4. Young dog in good health, weigh- 

 ing 4.500 kilos. 



The jugular vein is exposed without being opened; the animal, 

 fastened on the operating board, is carried to the compression ap- 

 paratus, and rapidly taken to 6 atmospheres, and this pressure is 

 maintained under a current of air for 3V2 hours. It howls a great deal. 



Decompression in 20 seconds. The animal is taken from the 

 cylinder and unfastened. Complete paralysis of movement and of 

 sensibility in the four legs; rapid pulse, accelerated respiration; no 

 howls. 



Put back immediately on the operating table; 50 cc. of blood are 

 drawn from the peripheral end of the jugular; no gas to be seen; 

 blood is slowly ejected under water; no gas bubbles. A cannula is 

 inserted into the right auricle; 50 cc. of blood is drawn and treated 

 in the same way; no bubbles. 



The dog is attacked by diarrhea and involuntary urination. 



It dies during the night. 



The autopsy shows the presence of large bubbles of gas in the 

 venous system (vena cava, azygos vein, mesenteric veins). Much is 

 found in certain lobes of the liver and in the kidneys, a little in the 

 spinal cord, no trace of it in the brain, the meninges, or the muscles. 



Experiment DLXIV. June 12. Young white dog of small size, in 

 very good health. Placed in the large cylinder; brought rapidly to 

 5 ¥2 atmospheres of pressure. Maintained under this pressure with a 

 current of air for 4 hours. 



The animal seems very quiet during all this time. 



Decompressed in 20 seconds. 



When taken from the apparatus, it runs away, and we have great 

 difficulty in catching it. When the right jugular and femoral veins 

 are exposed, we see passing a long series of gas bubbles which keep 

 growing larger. 



After a few minutes, by means of a syringe, we draw from the 

 peripheral end of the jugular a certain quantity of blood which is 

 gently ejected under water: immediately numerous bubbles are seen 

 escaping to the surface. 



Dog, kept under observation for several days, shows no delayed 

 symptom. 



