Diving Bells and Suits 363 



see that out of 64 men, 47 withstood the work fairly well; 25 had 

 to be discharged; 2 died. Taking them in detail, we see that 14 

 felt slight symptoms, 16 more or less severe symptoms, sometimes 

 even threatening life; 2 died. 



On the other hand, 2 benefited by a certain improvement. One 

 (First category, obs. I) was asthmatic, and breathed better in the 

 shaft; the other (Third category, obs. 3) chloro-anemic, having had 

 frequent blood-spitting, found that his oppression /disappeared 

 and his mucous membranes became redder: 



We see dawning, (MM. Pol and Watelle said in this connection) 

 without concealing the difficulties of application, a new resource of 

 palliative therapeutics in the treatment of most dyspneas. • 



The universal rule without exceptions was that the symptoms 

 appeared at the time of decompression: 



The danger does not lie in entering a shaft containing compressed 

 air; nor in remaining there a longer or shorter time; decompression 

 alone is dangerous: pay only when leaving. 



Let us see now what these more or less serious symptoms are. 



They are, first, pains in the eardrum, more or less severe and 

 lasting, and M. Pol states that they can be checked much more 

 quickly by blowing one's nose than by going through the motion 

 of swallowing. 



As for the other symptoms, as MM. Pol and Watelle had the 

 good sense to give the complete observations, I think I cannot do 

 better than to summarize each in a few words, following the order 

 in which they presented them: 



First Category. Workmen on the Job from the Beginning. 



Observations. I. Asthmatic, breathes better in the shaft. On 

 decompression, violent oppression with exaggerated circulatory re- 

 action. Discharged. 



II. Went up to 4V2 atmospheres. Respiration hampered, decrease 

 of appetite, indigestion, pains in the limbs. Stools dark. Lost much 

 weight. 



III. Same effects. 



IV. Same. 



V. Did well up to 3 atmospheres. After that, dizziness, muscular 

 pains, cramps or general numbness, vomiting of dark matter. All 

 this on the return to open air. 



One day, an hour after leaving the shaft, having eaten, he com- 

 plained of distress; when placed in bed, he lost consciousness. Pulse 

 full and rapid, face congested, respiration short and stertorous; obscure 

 sound everywhere, bronchial murmur, mucous rale; muscular reso- 

 lution. Bled, purged, plastered. After four hours, return to conscious- 

 ness. In three days, cured. Discharged. 



