Diving Bells and Suits 371 



December 12, 1859, there was an explosion at a bridge pier at 

 Bordeaux, and consequent instantaneous decompression; seven 

 of the laborers working there felt no ill effects. Two were killed, 

 but by purely mechanical causes. 



M. P. Regnauld, 1 " who gave a report of the work, does not say 

 at what pressure this accident took place, but we conclude from 

 his Memoir that the caisson at that time had certainly been sunk 

 more than 12.90 meters, (p. 82) 



In 1859, the bridge of Kaffre-Azzyat was built over the Nile: 

 the piers were excavated to a depth of 26 meters below the water. 

 Five Arabs died from the effects of the pressure: one in the cage, 

 as he was leaving, but before he had reached the open air; the 

 pressure was 36 English pounds per square inch. 17 The others felt 

 ill in the caisson and died during the decompression; the pressure 

 then was more than 30 pounds. Blood issued from their mouths, 

 noses, and ears. 



The Memoir of Babington and Cuthbert, 1 * from which I have 

 borrowed the preceding data, is particularly devoted to the medi- 

 cal study of symptoms observed during the laying of the founda- 

 tion of the bridge of Londonderry, in October, 1861. 



The depth reached was 75 feet below water level: 



The pressure sustained by the laborers was, at the maximum, 43 

 pounds per square inch, in all. They suffered from pains in the ears, 

 headaches, pains in the legs, nosebleeds, and general distress. These 

 symptoms increased greatly when the cocks were opened wide and 

 the change in pressure was therefore too rapid .... These symptoms 

 appeared first when the men entered the compressed air; but they 

 were much worse when the change was made from the caissons to the 

 open air: serious, even fatal, symptoms appeared then. 



I am copying in abridged form the six observations of the au- 

 thors: 



I. October 3, 1861. Man 28 years old, who had worked four hours 

 under a pressure of 23 pounds; when he came out, he fell unconscious. 

 Cold and livid; total insensibility, facial paralysis on the right side; 

 strabismus of the right eye; pupils almost motionless; pulse 150, small 

 and irregular; heart sounds hardly perceptible; respirations very 

 irregular, 24 to 44 per minute; inspiration abrupt, expiration pro- 

 longed. 



Bleeding: blood dark, viscous and sticky .... Died 24 hours after 

 leaving the cylinder. 



II. Case absolutely similar, occurred at the same time .... Died 

 also in 24 hours. 



III. 23 years old. When we visited him, he was completely pros- 

 trated, but was conscious, and complained of pains in his legs and 

 thighs. Unable to walk, hands and feet cold and without sensation. 



