Death in Closed Vessels 565 



C. Compressed air at very high pressure: fatal action of oxygen. 



The study of the alterations of compressed air which has be- 

 come lethal through confinement was to give me a result that was 

 interesting in a very different way. 



When we examine carefully Column 8 of Table V, we see that, 

 from 6 atmospheres on, the number of the carbonic acid tension 

 is a little lower than one finds at a pressure from 2 to 5 atmos- 

 pheres, and seems to continue diminishing as the pressure in- 

 creases. This slight difference did not impress me at first; but 

 when I made experiments at pressures higher than those of Table 

 III in the cylindrical glass reservoir capable of supporting a pressure 

 of 25 atmospheres, I obtained numbers which showed me the ap- 

 pearance of a new element in the question. 



Here is the report of these experiments. 



Experiment CXX. April 16. 



Linnet; taken to 20 atmospheres, from 4:55 to 5:10. 

 Slight convulsions appear at 5:15; the feet, the head, the body 

 quiver in spasms. Dies at 5:35. Lived 25 minutes. 

 Lethal air: CO* 0.4. 

 CO* x P = 8. 



Experiment CXX I. April 23. 



Sparrow; at 9:45 taken to 6 atmospheres. Dies at 11:10; lived 

 about 1 hour 20 minutes. 



Lethal air: CO* 3.5; O* 16. 

 CO* x P = 21.0. 



Experiment CXX II. April 23. 



Sparrow; taken at 3:10 to 3 atmospheres. At 4:05, very sick; at 

 4:50, dying. Dead at 5 o'clock; lived about 1 hour 50 minutes. Spot on 

 the scalp; dark blood in the jugular; no gas. 



Lethal air: CO* 7.8; O* 10.7. 



CO* x P = 23.4. 



Experiment CXXIII. April 24. 



Mountain sparrow; taken at 1:40 to 5 and % atmospheres. At 3 

 o'clock still alive; found dead at 3:50; lived about 1 hour 30 minutes. 

 Large scalp suffusions. 



Lethal air: CO2 3.8; O* 15.5. 



CO* x P = 21.8. 



Experiment CXXIV. April 26. 



House sparrow; at normal pressure has respiratory rate of 144. 

 Taken to 3 atmospheres at 1 o'clock; respiratory rate 132. At 1:03, to 

 6 atmospheres, respiratory rate, 130; at 1:06, to 9 atmospheres, respir- 

 atory rate 120. Closed the cocks; at 1:11, respiratory rate 106; at 1:20, 

 80; at 1:50, 50, very sick; found dead at 2:25. Lived about 1 hour 10 

 minutes. 



