Death in Closed Vessels 529 



happened (numbers 21, 31, and 32 of the table) at pressures of 20 

 and even 26 centimeters. We must not forget that the birds which 

 die in containers of confined air die very slowly, grow cold, and 

 therefore can live a long time with a very slight consumption of 

 oxygen. Claude Bernard- showed with admirable sagacity the 

 difference existing between a vigorous and a weakened animal from 

 this point of view. 



It was with the purpose of reaching the lowest possible point, 

 by going slowly, that the following experiments were made. 



Experiment XXXVIII. March 30. House sparrow. Bell-jar of 50 

 liters. 



Entered at 2 o'clock. Current of air maintained by the steam 

 pump. At 2:04, 51 cm. of pressure; at 2:05, 39 cm.; at 2:06, 33 cm.; 

 uneasy, panting a little. At 2:07, 25 cm.; falls with its beak forward, 

 panting, does not get up again. Pressure rises to 28 cm.; the bird does 

 not stir; pressure falls suddenly to 24 cm. (2:09 o'clock), and the bird 

 hops about staggering and falls immediately. At 2:11, 22 cm., same 

 condition; at 2:13, 16 cm.; violent convulsion; pressure restored to 20 

 cm.; at 2:25, still 20 cm.; pressure lowered again; at 2:27, only 17 cm.; 

 and at 2:30, only 16.5 cm. At 2:32, the mercury suddenly goes to 8 

 cm.; convulsions and death. Rectal temperature is 32°. 



Experiment XXXIX. Same day, same apparatus. 



Entered at 2:40. In one minute brought to 22 cm.; falls on its side 

 and does not get up. At 2:43, 20 cm.; at 2:45, 17 cm.; at 2:54, 16 cm.; 

 at 3:15, 15.5 cm. In the intervals, the pressure was lowered two or 

 three times suddenly to 10 cm., and raised immediately. The bird 

 remained motionless, bristling, breathing with difficulty. Taken out 

 at 3:15, is very cold. 



Recovers very well after a quarter of an hour and survives. At 

 4:30, has a normal temperature. 



Experiment XL. January 2. House sparrow, vigorous. Barometric 

 pressure 753 mm.; bell-jar of 4.5 liters. 



Decompression begun, with air flowing through chamber, at 2:35. 



At 2:55, the pressure under the bell-jar is only 58 cm.; the bird 

 is calm. 



At 3:05, pressure, 48 cm.; at 3:15, 40 cm.; at 3:25, 30 cm.; at 3:35, 

 23 cm.; the bird is crouched on its tarsi. 



At 3:45, pressure, 17 cm.; the bird is lying on its side, , but does not 

 appear very sick. 



From 3:50 to 3:55 the pressure is lowered to 15 cm.; from 3:55 to 

 4 o'clock, to 14 cm.; from 4 o'clock to 4:05 to 11 cm.; from 4:05 to 

 4:10, to 10 cm.; the bird is on its side but fairly quiet. 



Air is admitted suddenly; the bird gets up on its feet immediately; 

 its rectal temperature is 28°. It is warmed by the stove, and gets up 

 on the perch in its cage. But it dies during the night. 



Here are sparrows with which we proceeded slowly enough to 

 bring on weakness and chill, and which underwent diminutions of 



