Symptoms of Decompression 665 



5:03, pressure 12 cm.; respiratory rate 60. 



5:12, pressure 13 cm.; I lower it to 11.7 cm.; no apparent effect. 



5:20, pressure 14 cm.; respiratory rate 65. 



5:22, twelfth opening; pressure falls to 10.8 cm. 



The animal twists and rolls on its side, with tonic and clonic 

 convulsions. 



5:24, pressure 11.7. The convulsions have ceased; only slight quiv- 

 ering of the feet; it remains lying down, and never gets up again. 



5:37, pressure 14.7 cm.; respiratory rate 80. 



5:40, pressure 15 cm.; lowered to 11.7 cm.; the animal does not 

 move but is evidently swelling. 



5:53, pressure 15.5 cm.; same state. Fourteenth opening of the 

 cock; lowered to 12.5 cm. 



6:45, pressure 19 cm.; animal in same condition. Communication 

 with outside air opened wide. Swelling diminishes, but the animal 

 breathes no better; it is almost insensible; its rectal temperature has 

 fallen to 20°. 



It remains lying on its side and dies in the night. 



No ecchymoses in the lungs. 



Experiment CCXXVIII. June 11; temperature 21°. Guinea pig, 

 weighing 485 grams; put under a bell of 13.5 liters. 



From 3:24 to 3:30, the pressure is lowered to 26 cm.; the animal 

 has not been struggling; but then he staggers, then recovers fairly 

 well, scratches his nose, etc. 



At 3:32, same state; respiratory rate 100; walks a little. 



At 3:34, lowered to 20 cm.; respiratory rate rises to 135; the 

 animal remains motionless. 



At 3:35, pressure 17.5 cm.; lies down on its belly. 



At 3:40, pressure 13.7 cm.; respiratory rate 80, deep, painful; 

 pupils soon dilate; slight convulsive jerking comes on. 



At 3:45, same pressure maintained; the animal falls on its side; 

 convulsive movements, with rigidity. Belly enormously swollen. 



Dies at 3:49. 



At 4:02, rectal temperature is 34.6°. 



Experiment CCXXIX. June 17; temperature 22°. Guinea pig in 

 the large bell; current of air. 



From 2:50 to 3:45, pressure is lowered to 36 cm. 



Then, progressively, from 3:45 to 4:20, to 13 cm.; respiratory rate 

 is then 20, and the animal remains lying on its side. 



At 4:25, pressure lowered for an instant to 10 cm. 



The animal makes convulsive movements of the feet and head; the 

 breathing is difficult and jerky. 



Pressure maintained at 12 cm. until 4:40, then returned to normal. 



Its rectal temperature is then 25°. Very soon it rises on its feet; 

 regains strength, gets warm; at 4:50, its rectal temperature has risen 

 to 31°. 



It dies. 



Let us now examine the results of these experiments successively 

 from the point of view of the different physiological functions. 



