PHIL 
ASPHYXIA. 
A PAPER READ BEFORE THE QUEENSLAND 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, IN JULY, 1859, 
BY DR. BARTON. 
Asphyxia — a sphyxis — means literally want 
of pulse ; it is not, however, used generally by 
medical men in this sense, for though want of 
pulse is observed in death from any cause, yet 
the circulating system may not, in the first 
instance, be at fault. By Asphyxia we mean 
“’the cessation of the respiratory functions, and 
the consequent retention of carbonic acid in 
the blood ; if this be sufficiently prolonged ; a 
condition ensues to which the name of asphyxia 
has been given.” 
For the better understanding of the subject 
proposed, we will first glance at the parts con- 
cerned in respiration — their structure ; the 
chemical changes produced in the air and blood 
by the act of respiration— the nervous influ- 
ence. The object of this preliminary enquiry 
will be seen when we enter on the second part 
of these observations, viz. : — Death by drown- 
ing — instances of death by asphyxia, method 
of treating persons drowned ; Marshall Hall’s 
ready method — how performed — its rationale — 
its success. It will at once be conceded that, 
beyond the scientific interest belonging to the 
subject, the knowledge of ready and rational 
means for restoring persons asphyxiated is of 
the utmost importance, for in the numerous 
cases of suspended animation — in the adult 
from drowning, and in the new born babe from 
natural causes connected with the birth — a 
prompt application of the means about to be 
proposed may often save life. 
The parts concerned in Respiration . — These 
are placed in the thorax chiefly, but extend to 
the mouth, they are the lungs, the heart — com- 
posed of two organs in one — the light and left 
sides, the trachea and larynx. The organs are 
protected by the bony frame of the thorax, 
and supplied with muscles, vessels, and 
nerves for the due performance of their functions 
Before speaking of the chemical changes effected 
in the air and blood by the act of respiration, 
we will take a sufficient glance at so much of 
the structure of the parts concerned, and circu- 
lation of the blood through them, as may 
enable us to understand the rationale of the 
ready method. The lungs, two in number, in 
the human subject, are placed one on each side 
of the thorax, and in the healthy state, occupy 
the whole space except that taken up by the 
heart and air vessels. The lungs are partly 
divided by long and deep fissures into lobes, 
the right .into three, the left into two, — the 
lungs are composed of ramifications of the 
bronchial tubes, which terminate in inter- 
cellular passages and air cells, of the ramifica- 
tions of the pulmonary artery and veins ; 
bronchial arteries and veins, by lymphatics and 
nerves held together by areolar fibrous tissue, 
which constitutes the parenchyma of the lungs, 
this areolar tissue is composed of small divisions 
called lobules, this again consisting of smaller 
lobules, and these parts are formed by clusters 
of air cells in the parietes of which the capil- 
laries of the pulmonary artery and pulmonary 
veins are distributed. The impure blood is 
brought from the right side of the heart by tlie 
pulmonary artery, which arises from the right 
ventricle, and dividing into right and left pul- 
monary arteries, pass to the root of each lung, 
the right dividing into three, and the left into 
two, one for each tube. These arteries divi- 
ding and subdividing in the structure of the 
lungs, terminate in capillary vessels, which 
form a net- work around the air passages and 
cells, and become continuous into the radicles 
of che pulmonary veins. 
The blood rendered pure at this point, is 
returned to the lefc side of the heart, to be 
again sent through the general system, 
by the pulmonary veins. We have 
just said that the radicles of these 
are continuous with the capillaries of the pul- 
monary artery, they arise upon the parietes of 
the intercellular passages and air cells, and unite 
to forma single trunk for each lobe, these unit- 
ing, form two tranks which open into the left 
auricle. We have thus at a glance traced the 
blood (impure and poisonous to the human 
system) from the right side of the heart 
through the lungs, and returned purified and 
fit for circulating through the system to the 
left side of tne heart by the pulmonary veins. 
