Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-11-18
HE HER A Id
The Dangers of Carbonic Acid Gas.
oorr.,Dopdeuce Of the Dubuque Times.

Correspondence OF the Dubuque Times.
EDITOR TINES about every
fifth paper I pick mp read of loss o
life from the effect of esrbonlc scie
gas; aud in nearly every case
knowledge of the properties OF thu
gas would have averted the calamity
As have experienced its effects, ane
know lust how dangerous it is,
think il only right to give to Others
the benefit of my experience.
Some time since, in my presence
young man went down into well
some twenty-five feet deep. Through
carelessness, the well bad not been
examined to find whether the gas
usually called clamps" or "choke-
damp") was present. He made q
loop in the end of a rope. took hold
of the rope higher up with his hauds
and was let down TO the bottom.
AS soon as he touched the bottom he
let go of the rope, but did not remove
bis foot. As be stood m0tlonless, MS
companions stopped down to see why
he did not move. His chest was
seen to be heaving violently, and his
breathing could be heard plainly to
the top of the we'll He seemed to
be losing consciousness; but on being
advised TO take hold OF the rope, be
did so. and was hauled up safely.
Wishing to feel tie effect of the gas,
took hold of the rope, placed my
foot in the loop, and after giving dl-
rections as to drawing me up was let
down slowly. For fifteen feet l
breathed freely; but as l went fur
Their respiration became more and
more difficult, until | could be heard
some distance from the top of the
we'll There was no oppression OF
the chest, only an apparent scarcity
of air. There was an oppressive SEN
sation in the front part OF my head.
which soon extended to the back part.
1t seemed as though my head was
between two solid bodies pressing
together with great force. AT length
| gave the signal to be hauled up.
After recovering, went down again,
with result precisely similar.
The effects of the gas pass almost
entirely away after breathing fresh
air for few minutes, providing that
is not poisonous, but simply taking
the place of air, so that though the
lungs be inflated with it to the ut
most, no oxygen is taken into the
system Though heavier than air it
mixes with it to a certain extent, as
is proved by the breathing becoming
more difficult as the person descends.
1t may be removed from a well sutii-
GENTLY to make it safe to descend
with tub or bucket. Part may be
drawn up and poured out like water,
and the remainder will be 50 mixed
with the air as to be harmless. SO
log AS candle will burn, however
dimiy, no danger need be appre-
hended; but if the candle goes out it
is unsafe to enter the well
In case of a person in well being
overcome and losing consciousness,
it is nearly always possible to save
him if the bystanders will only keep
their senses about them. II the well
is not more than fifty feet deep, a
man can take rope with a loop
ready to attach to the sufferer and
be let down quickly, as he can hold
his breath that l)ng; and if he does
inhulo some of that g-s it will not
hurt him if drawn up quickly. If,
however, The we'll is too deep, or the
bystanders are too tImid to enter,
they should at once set about draw
ing up the gas while graphing hooks
are being prepared.
Farley, Iowa, Oct. 80, 1875. w.