40 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
Time. Respiration. 
P.M. Rate per min. Remarks. 
5:00 24 Just before putting into the apparatus. 
5:30 24 Asleep. 
6:00 29-30 Awake; lying still. 
6:30 32 Asleep. 
7:30 30-32 Awake; lying still. 
8:00 31-32 Asleep. 
10:00 32-33 Asleep. 
12:00 32-33 Up; looking around. 
A.M. 
aioe. 0) 34-35 Asleep. 
4:30 — Moving around; breathing a little short. 
5:00 34 Sitting up. 
6:00 41-42 Breathing short and jerky. 
7:30 38 Sat on haunches and ate some. 
8:30 35 Asleep. 
10:00 27 Looking around. 
10:45 
The only time that the animal gave any signs of distress was when his respira- 
tion was short and jerky, but these symptoms did not last long. During the ° 
progress of the experiment we had from time to time tested the outgoing gas by 
means of a splinter with a spark at the tip. On plunging this into the exit tube 
the spark would burst into a blaze. At 10:45, on performing this experiment, 
an explosion took place which blew off the lid, and broke the glass front out of the 
apparatus, thus bringing the experiment to an untimely end. The cat was singed 
somewhat by the explosion, and was a little stiff from his confinement, but other- 
wise seemed to be unaffected. His respiration had become about normal, and we 
have no reason to doubt that he might have lived there indefinitely had oxygen 
been supplied and no accident supervened. 
In respect to the cause of the explosion, which must have been due to the pro- 
duction of some combustible gas, the only explanation that we can suggest is, 
that the gas may have been of intestinal origin. It is very surprising to us that 
the quantity could be sufficient to produce the result observed. The oxygen 
itself was tested and found to be non-explosive, and, in fact, the cylinders had 
never been used for holding hydrogen or other combustible gases. Had time 
permitted, we would have been glad to pursue this phase of the subject further, 
but were unable to at the time. 
Second Experiment.—A white rabbit was placed under the same conditions 
as the cat, and similar observations made. The notes are omitted, as no notice- 
able change took place. After fifty-three hours the rabbit was removed, appar- 
ently in as good condition as when he went in. Grass and clover were eaten 
heartily during the experiment. 
Third Experiment.—In this case a bantam hen and an ordinary chicken 
about four weeks old were put into the respiration chamber together. They were 
provided with perches. The little chicken had a hard time of it, as the old hen 
fought it almost constantly while awake. They remained in the oxygen forty- 
four hours and seemed to be in perfect condition at the conclusion of the experi- 
ment. At one time, when the current of oxygen was somewhat slow, they showed 
some gasping and were depressed in spirits. This was about three hours before 
the conclusion of the experiment, and on turning on a more rapid current of. the 
oxygen, the symptoms entirely disappeared, the old hen became quite lively, and 
began to chase the little chicken again, and abused it severely until the close of 
the experiment. 
Termination of experiment. 
