The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-07

men coming out Of q csisson are hurried into II.
They ara required Tn strip on their clothing
rough towels they are advised TO put on clean,
dry. clothing and lie stll half an hour.
taken when q man is passing from the com
pressed air. into the atmosphere: Engineer
Colllnswood Of the Brooklyn bridge made z
stay in tho airlock i've minutes for every hf-
teen pounds OF pressure; While a man is IL
lowing the air to ESCAPE through the top trap.
Few companies. however. abide strictly by
sirlocE as sufficient. A large engin ,orins
Arm In this city has an elaborate set Of rules
fSp m the y rhd inc, or .hei ,ro sn,.so On employees;
to ~cpileptic attacks or are particularly stout
ane employed by this firm. In coming from or
90 directly to the warming house or from IL.
The warming house should not DO left, ssy tho
rules. before the foreman gives notice that tho
~caisson is ready. After entering tho warming
house men should be careful TO keep out OF
drsughts. IL q man. on coming from a calls
son, feels q slight gripping sensation. which
means the bends. he should lie down as near
the stove as possible. cover himself with SUI.
have hot appllca lions placed on the parts af-
fected. Half an hour. at least. should be
tho caisson. during which one should battle Ia
clothes. No LIQUOR may be drunk before one
nor should a man go down with an empty
stomach. Plenty Of meat should be eaton.
down. Al least eight hours of sleeo must be
had In tho night, and IL 10 most Important that
in heavy PRESSURE es aes' men should lie led, down for at
least an hour after coming out, and. finally.
they, should mover enter u oaisson when feeling
These rules are based on C~olliuVwood's
rules. made for the men working In tho Brook.
more recent experience. II the men minded
them there would be no reason why they
DAYS a week N n oaistrop' But unfortnnnteiy
like most men engaged in hazardous work, the
cais.on workers are often d'ssipa.ed. and the
bends usually overtakcs them.
stand, Casters Magasine said recently:
"Ancnt tho recently mooted question as to
the greatest air pressure men can stand In Gale
son work, Messrs. Sooysmith & Co. OF New
Sf9rk; who for years hay: made z speciality OF
ins. the use of compressed air. tell US that tho
full ability of properly equipped and properly
behaved men, under the most favorable condi-
tlons. to resist caisson disease has never be- en-
tested: The highest working. pre,sures re-
corded have oeen close to hfty pounds Der
square inch. but with extreme care 10 the selec-
ton or men and acorrespondif e care on the part
o NAV ,h1 be % eo. . u es Ee,s s pss = 'h Far i ahs aver.
age man under ordinary conditions the top
limit may be placed at about foity.nve
I'm =. the time OF working varying from four
to six hours a shift. according to con litions. In
cases. where higher pressures might be used
the shifts for tho men should be restricted TO
two OF two hours each. separated by n conrid-
cradle Interval.
THE character OF the material through which
the caissOn is being sunk. or upon which II may
90 resting NJ any time. bears quite largely upon
the ability OF tn" men TO stand the pressure
necessary to hold back the water at that point.
" the material be so porous ms to permit a con
siderable Leakage OF AR through It.. there will
naturally result a continuous change Of air
And "a corresponding relief OF the men from tho
deleterious effects which arc produced nearly
always by oyer.used air: In other words, vsnti.
lation 10 kept up by the porous ma or 81.
On the other hand. II the ca'sson Is passing
through -n imper gious substance, surh as
tough clay, consequent bad effects on the men
are very noticeable. As II is usually necessary
TO carry the highest pressure when the Gals
con has reached It's final position and while the
being sealed up. the worst effects usually re-
salt &C this time; thus Iery often when tho
pressure is greatest tho ventilation Is worst.
. The physical condition OF the men is a
very important factor IN tho whole matter.
and who arc not tieshy can endure much high
er pressures shAn men who have not these phys
ical conditions"
Brief mention may be made OF other effects
OF compressed air that do not constitute Gals
son disease. These effects are noticeable In
are affected often. On entering Compressed
air II is necessary that a man have on the ear
This increased pressure is secured By the out
10. of air through the eustachian tube. II this
s ss ffr si1 s sas's b. is t oS Siiii iatU /. but BY Il ne d n 'l sss
nose and trying To force air through When
this cannot be done plu I ing OF the ear ensues.
IA the ear bursts and deafness results Then,
too. II a man has catarrh or h cold the air will
not enter readily the cavities back OF the nose.
| the maxilAry slnuses. and those above the
eyes, the frontal sinuses. In this cas-" return
to the normal atmosphere brings on intense
pain until equilibrium 10 restored. The slo,
entrance of the air does not seem painful. but
the slow exit is extremely so. Uften the air In
the military sinuess leaks out around the eye
teeth. separating the gums from the teeth.
T" illustrate the care taken Of csis.on work
men. mention may be made OF the compressed
air hospital once used In the Hudson River
tunnel. The hospital consisted of n huge cyl
indcr fitted with couches and thick bullseye
windows. Tie air was kept at a pressure equal
to that OF the caisson. When a man came out
of the caisson showing the slightest signs OF
the disease he was hurried into the hospital
and kept there under medical treatment for
gradually. two hours sometimes being con-
sumcd in the operation. until the pressurc Of
normal atmosphere was reached. Then tho
patient was released.