The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-15
CARBON DIOXIDE
FOR Gas VICTIM
Public Health Service Tests
Method for Efficiency in
Mines and Elevators.
CARBON MONOylDE IS OUSTED
Breathing is Stimulated by Use of In
halator, Filling the Lungs With
Oxygen-Inventor Sees Dan
ger in Its Use.

ger in Its Use.
New York.=Persons overcome by IL
Illuminating gas are being treated with
carbon dioXide and oxygen by the
| United States public health service in
series of studies to determine wheth-
er the carbon dioXide treatment should
| be introduced into mines and grain
elevators where the life-saving de-
vices are prescribed by the United
States government.
From each person treated by the
new method, which was devised by
Prof. Yandell Henderson of Yale. work
ing under the United States bureau
of mines, a few drops of blood are
taken at the moment when the in
haler is first applied, and few drops
more are taken at the end of 20 min
utes use of this apparatus.
The samples of blood are sent to
Doctor Henderson at Yale" said DR..
Stuart Scott, who has been assigned
by the United States public health
service to take charge of the test of
the invention in this city, where it is
man victims of gas poisoning.
There the samples are being an
alyzed to discover what percentage of
carbon monoxide has been removed
from the blood in the 20 minutes dur
ing wh-ch the inhalator is used. 1t will
take a long course of experiments 70
determine this. Ii it is finally shown
that the use of carbon dioXide mixed
with oxygen is the best antidote for
asphyxiation, the inhalator will prob
ably replace the different varieties of
pulmotor now in use in government
service"
Used to Stimulate Breathing.
The function of the carbon dioxide
is to stimulate breathing, which be
comes extremely feeble in patient
overcome by gas. The strong breath
ing keeps the lungs filed with oxygen,
and the faster the oxygen enters the
lungs the more rapidly the blood is
cleared of the carbon monoxide.
In Bellevue and other hospitals a
of experiments have been car
ried ON in the administration of car
bon dioXide to patients who have been
long under ether during operations.
The use of carbon dioxide with great |
care in such cases is said to speed up |
breathing, so that the patients quickly |
clear the ether from their systems and |
suffer less than the usual i'll effects |
from it.
The average case of gas poisoning is
not the best kind on which to show |
-hn Of ;.,l
according to Doctor Henderson, be-
,ause of the fact that such cases have |
Usually been under asphyxiation for
many hours. During this time, lack
# oxygen in the body often produces
changes in the nerve and
,ther body cells. The mere removal |
# the carbon monoXide and the restor-
ltion of the patients breathing APP
,aratus cannot repair the damage al
eady done throughout the system Of
he patient.
The great benefit claimed for the
Ise of the carbon dioxide process is
n the early treatment of acute cases
f gas poisoning of firemen asphyxi-
ted by smoke and similar cases of
lonoXide poisoning. Profound harm
I'll changes may take place in the
ody of the sufferer within a short
ime in such cases, and slow processes
f resuscitation do not save the pa
lent from after effects which may lin
er for life in disturbed nerve cen
ars and constitutional troubles.
The use of carbon dioxide In the
process, however, is be-
eyed to be capable of clearing the
lood so quickly that a person suffer
lg from severe asphyxiation may re-
over without i'll effects If the remedy
used quickly.
Would Bar Inhaator's Use.
Even if the inhalatOr is perfect de-
ice, Doctor Henderson asserts that
would be better if all such devices
ere prohibited by law, because their
fleet is to prevent workers In mines
nd elsewhere from learning how to
sstore breathing in an asphyxia ed
arson without the use of instruments
"The standpoint which seems to me
he justified by eight years of ex-
srience, ever since our commissions
: first investigated the matter" he
i'd lis that, even if we had an
eally perfect apparatus for giving
'tificial respiration, it would still be
liter to discourage and even forbid
e manufacture, sale, use and intro
iction of such apparatus, because it
ads to delay, and thus more deaths
,aths which should and could be res
ratiOnS"