The Cordova daily times., 1917-04-30
OXYGEN RESCUE APPARATUS |S
 IMPROVED

WASHINGTON, April 90. - In re sponse to inquiries from the army and navy as to information concerning the best types of apparatus to be used in combating noxious gases, the bureau of mines, department of the interior which had such an investigation under way in behalf of the miners of the country, has rushed it's report into print, with the result that experts are now busily engaged in designing an apparatus that promises to be super for t0 any now in use on the European battleGelds.
 The experts of the bureau, pr. Yan- dell Henderson, professor of physiol- ogy in the Yale medical school and a recognized authority on the physiol- ogy of respiration, and J. w. Paul, in charge of the rescue work of the bu- reau of mines, make the statement that tho wearing Of the present types of oxygen rescue apparatus involves grave danger, owing to the fact that the makers have as yet failed to meet satisfactorily certain mechanical physiological needs in construction. They point out the dangers and de- fleets of the apparatus, and suggest ways in which these may be eli. minated.
 While this report is primarily of interest to the mining industry and is meant as q measure of the improve ment in the oxygen apparatus used in saving life at mine disasters" said Van H. Manning, director of the bu- reau, "it comes at such a time as to be Of great value to the army and the navy in their need of apparatus to protect the lives of their men in war fare. Rescue apparatus is being quite generally introduced. Some states even require by law it's purchase by mine owners. A large number of coal and metal mines now have apparatus on hand for use after explosions and hitAlR iiA Co., iiC epptli tlAuo 10 olDb being sold in increasing amounts to the fire departments of cities, and crews have been trained to penetrate smoke filled buildings for the saving of life and property. Around gas works and refrigerating plants air hel- nets of a simple type are sometimes Uatsy 11gafu1 UNbic uaraf inc oIcn finJc a use in the navy when the deeper and unyentilated compartments of a vessel are to be enterd. The recent introduc- tion of asphyXiating gases for offen- sive military purposes has been met by means of simple masks provided with a chemical absorbent It is re- ported that, on one side at least, the { men setting off the gas are themselves \ protected from asphyXiation by means If oxygen mine rescue apparatus of the so-called half hour type.
 Tn the apparatus now being used we have found a number of grave de, fleets. As an instance of one of these serious defects, the manufacturers of such apparatus have directed that the oxygen supply should be set at rate sufficient for only moderate eXertion upon the part of the wearer. Because of this rescue crews have been trained to walk slowly and to stop and rest a at frequent intervals. Moving slowly might mean to be crushed and wig gorous attempt to escape would result in collapse or even asphyxiation, be- cause of an insufficient supply of oxygen.
 "As the most effective means of putting into concrete form and of testing the feasibility of the recom- mendations of this report, the bureau has attempted to develop an apparatus along the physiological lines for which it calls. For some time w. E. Gibbs, an experienced mechanical engineer, has been at work for the bureau or this problem"