Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-03

capable of withstanding great internal or co.
ternal pressures. The tank contains two large
compartments and small one. One of the
= large compartments is entrance lock-
through which access can be had to the other
large compar tment, which is the treatment
chamber The small compartment is for ad-
hitting medical supplies, food or other articles
without disturbing the pressure in the treat
ment chamber. The latter is provided with
heaters, electric fans, telephones and other
equipment. Glass portfolios afford means of
observing the reactions of patients in thee
chamber.
THE injured diver, still unconscious, was car
ried into the chamber Air pressure was
increased slowly at first and when the pressure
gauge registered seven pounds Rasmussen in
dcated that his senses were returning-his
of pain, at least-for he pointed feeby
to his ears. Tibbals understood the gesture
and began to massage the man under the ears.
At the touch of Tibbals fingers the patient
jumped apparently ip intense pain. The sud-
den movement caused the mans jaws to I'M
lock and he able to humble few I'M
ineligible words.
Tibbals held the patients closed and
told him to blow in an effort to clear the ears.
The attempt nearly cost Rasmussen his life.
Tibbals graphically described what followed:
The exertion of blowing caused breathing
apparently to stop for a period of less than a
minute. The exact time is not known. The
pulse became very irregular and spasmodic, and
finally tor about one and one-haf minutes no
pulse could be distinguished at all.
II could not state that the heart had stop
ped, but from all indications this seemed to be
the case
In their experiments with animals naval ex-
perts had found that sudden increase in pres
served to stimulate the heart.
Tibbals looked at the air pressure gauge. 1t
indicated 16 pounds per square inch. He
turned a valve and the pointer moved to 90
Closing the valve, he placed his fingers on the
dead" mans wrist.
He could not detect the slightest pulse But
within few seconds the patient began to draw
gasping breaths.
Almost simultaneously Tibbals felt heavy
beat of the pulse. ut as though an OBJ
ject the size of the rubber tip of lead pencil
had forced its way through the artery" he
said later
The strong beat followed by several
irregular pulsations and then by fairly regular
beats. At the end of 10 minutes the pulse was
nearly normal and the patient began to show
other signs of life.
In the meantime Tibbals had raised the pres
sure gradually to 80 pounds. Rasmussen re-
covered from his state of suspended animation
with remarkable CELEBRITY. Orders were issued
for decomposition to start AS the pressure
dropped slowly to 20 pounds over period of
shoes and began to rub his feet. While en-
gagged in the massaging process Tibbals was
surprised to hear Rassmussen's voice.
That's better" the diver said, weakly. II
can feel them now"
The human wreck" who but few moments
before had been at the gates of DEATH then
asked his benefactors to help him sit up.
At this stage medical officer entered with
hypodermic needle hot coffee and hot towels.
Injections for the heart were given and the
towels were placed over the bruised and swol-
len face Of the revived man He drank greedily
from cup of coffee.
Reduction of pressure in the tank continued
for about two hours. During this period the
face became less bloated and the patients
general condition improved rapidly.
On completion of recompression," Tibbals'
report relates, "the patient sat up, put ON his
shoes and said he was as good as new OBJ
servers could not agree with this statement,
however. The patient walked out of the
chamber, drank another cup of coffee, climbed
unaided in ambulance and was taken to
Providence Hospital"
Naval officials interested in Rassz
mussens case that periodic observations werep'
Continued on Nineteenth Page