The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-09-22
5alraiialr 6azGtte.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER u. Is


We lately presented an account Of Mr..
Fleuss's discovery Of u method Of diving and
living under water without recourse to air
tubes. As corroborating what we stated re-
garding this remarkable person and his dis
covery, the following appears in the TINES OF
April ~.
'Mr. Fleuss made his FIRST appearance at the
Royal Aquarium, Westminster, last night, IN
the large tank built for the whale and used by
the seals. His remarkable performance under
water was better seen than it has been else
where either during the few months OF the
exhibition of his apparatus at the Polytechnic
or at Brighton. He can stay under water for
five hours without an sir-tube or any other
communication with the surface; and this alb
sence Of encnmbranee gives him much greater
freedom than other divers possess. he can,
for instance, lie down and bend his body IN
any position without fear Of being lifted or
fioaied up, and without suffering from the OBJ
struction of the long pipe which usually con-
meets the head of diver with boat above.
In short, he possesses the principal advantage
which distinguishes an animal from plant /;
he moves independently instead of being. root
ed to one spot Fore-shortened in the water,
he presents curious appearance, with great
google ewes in his FURNISHED helmet, strong
water-tight dress, and water-boots. The
spectators amuse themselves by throwing
pence for him TO pick up, or by writing mes
sages 10 him on cardboard, which he reads and
answers on cardboard, always under water.
He sharpens his pencil under water, gives
and receives signals with a cord, and is to ex-
pertinent on the submarine use OF the tele-
phone. At Ryde he walked for quarter of
a mile under the sea; at Brighton he went
down in FIVE fathoms by the chain pier in
rough weather. If he could eat under water,
Mr. Fleuss says he could stay for u longer
period than the five hours which he gives as
the ordinary limit. Yesterday afternoon he
remainsd two hours and seven minutes under
water in the Aquarium, and again went down
for half an hour in the evening. In short
lecture on his apparatus which Mr.. Fleuss
gave in the evening Immediately on returning
to the upper air, he stated that his method is
no secret, that il is patented, and that the spe-
ci6cations are accordingly published. In every
draught of breath we draw we take in certain
amount of oxygen with four times as much
nitrogen. A little Of the oxygen becomes fixed
in the form of carbonic acid, and the air thus
deteriorated becomes unfit to breathe. If,
however, the place Of the missing oxygen is
taken by flesh supply. the mixture becomes
again fit for breathing. According to Mr..
Fleuss, he takes down compressed oxygen to
supply the place of that which is breathed in
other words, he has invented a set of anti
lungs, which perform function precisely the
reverse of that of the lungs proper. This was
confessedly rough, popular, hasty, and gem
eralised explanation. A more scientific &C
count may be expected from the lecture on the
subject which DR.. B. W. Richardson, +. r. s.,
who is specially qualified for the investigation
by his well-knowu experiments on ozone. is to
deliver at the Society of Arts. 1t will be re-
membered that 1t was 10 the same Society that
Professor Tyndall explained the fremans
respirator, which has since proved in practice
so valuable an instrument in straining the bad
air at fires before il reaches the lungs, and so
enabling the fireman to breathe what air is left
among smoke ard noxious vapours. Mr..
Fleuss's method is still more effectual, be-
cause he carries his own supply of oxygen
with him in compressed form, and has thus
been enabled TO breathe in an atmosphere in
which there is no appreciable quantity of air
at all. He states that he has gone through
fire-damp (carburretted hydrogenl and choke
damp (carbonic acid), and could exist in the
charged receiver of gas factory In the great
helmet and in the hollows OF his armour there
is room for certain quantity of air. and this
Is Kept fresh and constantly renewed by a
stream of oxygen, the pressure of which he
by tap at will. To refresh himself.
he increases the flow of oxygen; and when he
requires no stimulus, diminishes it. Mr..
Fleuss is young and vigorous man, who has
served in the steamboats, of the Peninsular
and Oriental Company. His apparatus is
certainly very ingenious and effective, and
well worthy of attention. r.-.-,. b