The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-08
CHRONIC CARBON MONOXIDE
POISONING

a portable gas neaUer IN DatnrOOm or
bedroom or from the exhaust Of an
automobile engine In closed garage
or from leaky flue, is likely to over
come the victim so suddenly that there
is no time to escape or call for help.
But the effects of prolonged exposure
to air which is only slightly con-
taminated by the deadly gas are not
so well known. Chronic co poison
ing is more common than one might
think. In modern life there are SO
many sources of such poisoning. aside
from those mentioned.
In cities, deaths from carbon mon
oxide exceed those from any other poi
son. How much illness Is due to mild
chronic InoroXide poisoning we can
anly conjecture, for doubtless most
cases are not correctly diagnosed, the
symptoms being ascribed to other
causes. In the majority Of instances
victims OF chronic carbon monoxide
poisoning do not consult physician
at ALL They prefer to ''try" what
ever nostrum or diet or suggestion
seems to them to fit the require
ments.
A few Of the many sources of mild
casing: Policing traffic in canyons
surrounded by high buildings. Living
In 9 house where any fuel is burned
with draft closed, or where there is
any leak in the flue or chimney
through which gases may escape into
the house. Tailors using gas irons with
,eaky gas connections or faulty burn
ers. Garage employees shut in where
engines are running. Women and
children living where artificial gas
connections permit leakage Of gas.
Persons working or living where any
kind Of stove iron becomes red hot,
or accommodations of SCOT become in
candescent: this latter condition oc-
ours frequently in gas water heaters.
Faulty heaters In closed automobiles,
Ind the bad habit of driving with all
windows closed, in cold weather.
A child has relatively greater
respiratory exchange than an adult
and hence q child is more quickly
overcome, more sensitive to q small
amount Of the odorless poison In the
air. A mouse or canary Is 50 quickly
overcome that rescue crews in mines
carry some such small animal to warn
them when the air Is dangerously
polluted (by the after-damp from the
use Of explosives). Young tomato
plants, and probably other plants, are
very sensitive to small proportions Of
co in the atmosphere. Gardeners and
f0Aricfc Lvon toNSpy r3icn kA
haust gases from the automobile are
70 plants.
It is well to remember that carbon
inonoxide is colorless. tasteless and
practically odorless. It burns with q
pale blue flame. It poisons by COM
b:ning with the hemoglobin in the
red blood corpuscles in place OF the
the cells OF the whole body. This
combination Of CO-hemoglobin Is even
more stable than the normal oxygen
combination (O-hemoglobin) and that
tact accounts for the deadliness Of
monoxtde poisoning and the obstinacy
OF after effects. Fortunately carbon
dioxide has nearly or quits Is great
an affinity for the hemoglobiu and
hence the administration Of carbon
dtoxide gas mixed with air or o3yeel
il the best treatment for monoxid'
poisoning.
In my opinion we should Include
among sources Of mild chronic carbon
.nonoxide poisoning excessive smoking
Chemical tests Of blood have prove,
that following the smoking Of q few
cigarettes. for example, there Is q
definite increase In the proportion o.