Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1893. 
Effect  of  Noxious  Gases. 
565 
At  the  end  of   2  minutes  rabbit  commenced  to  pant  rapidly. 
10 
it  became  stupefied  and  gasped  every  2  seconds, 
gasps  were  every  3  seconds  apart. 
6 
10 
death  ensued. 
Result. — 75  per  cent.  C02  and  25  per  cent,  air,  10  minutes 
inhalation ;  death. 
No.  5.  I  placed  a  mouse  in  a  glass  cylinder  and  pumped  in  an 
atmosphere  of  pure  C02;  death  was  instantaneous. 
Result. — Pure  C02 ;  death  instantaneous  (mouse). 
No.  6.  I  placed  a  mouse  in  a  glass  cylinder  and  pumped  in  an 
atmosphere  of  25  per  cent.  C02  and  75  per  cent.  air.  At  end  of  3 
minutes  mouse  seemed  slightly  affected  but  kept  moving  around 
the  cylinder,  in  this  test  held  vertically.  At  the  end  of  ten 
minutes  conditions  were  unchanged,  so  I  displaced  the  atmosphere 
of  25  per  cent.  C02  with  pure  air. 
Result. — The  mouse  revived,  instantaneously  on  first  inhalation. 
Result. — 25  per  cent.  C02  and  75  per  cent,  air,  so  minutes 
inhalation,  slightly  affected  but  recovered  instantaneously  in  fresh 
air  (mouse). 
No.  7.  I  Placed  a  mouse  in  a  glass  cylinder  and  pumped  in  an 
atmosphere  of  50  per  cent,  of  C02  and  50  per  cent.  air. 
At  the  end  of  10  seconds  mouse  showed  great  exhilaration. 
"  20      "       its  activity  was  greatly  reduced. 
"  30      "       it  became  stupefied. 
"  35      "       gave  short  gasps. 
45      "       gasps  were  long  and  apparently  painful. 
"  55      "       death  occurred. 
Result. — 50  per  cent.  C02  and  50  per  cent,  air,  55  seconds 
inhalation ;  death  (mouse). 
Experiments  5,  6  and  7  are  only  given  here  to  illustrate  the  fact 
that  the  smaller  the  animal  the  less  the  power  of  resistance  against 
co2 
CARBONIC  OXIDE,  CO. 
The  results  obtained  by  scientists  whom  we  are  accustomed  to 
quote,  on  the  effect  of  Carbonic  Oxide  on  animal  life,  are  first 
epitomized  : 
H.  Letheby,  M.B.,M.A.,Ph.D.,  etc.,  late  Professor  of  Chemistry 
and  Toxicology  in  the  Medical  College  of  the  London  Hospital,  says 
