, 1935-09-08

and Of Hygeia. the Health Magazine
AS early as 1873, scientists were beginning to con-
slider the dangers involved in deep sea diving. Now
adays. with the taking Of motion pictures far be-
low the surface Of the sea, and with the marve-
lous observations that have been made by Professor
William Beebe, interest in diving far into the ocean
depths is becoming widespread.
Three major difficulties must be overcome In
deep sea diving: ID Carbon dioxide poisoning. Cd
Oxygen poisoning. 80 Compressed air disease.
When q person bresthes. he gives out q certain
amount Of carbon dioxide. A normal amount Of it is
necessary to maintain the rate Of breathing. Natur-
ally, q diver who Is breathing into a closed system
has to be supplied with sufficient air to prevent an
over OF carbon dioxide.
Fortunately chemists have been able to develop
q canned chemical substance which absorbs car
bon dioxide when the diver breathes it out. Thus
the diver Is supplied with air from a high pressure
system and the canister takes UP the excess carbon
dioxide.
IN pumping air to the diver, he is given oxygen.
Al excessive amount Of oxygen will cause commissions,
with Inconsistencies and even death. It is recog-
ni1ed nowadays that in proper breathing. the power
OF the blood to combine with carbon dioxide in the
tissues and carry it to the lungs depends on the
giving up Of oxygen to the tissues by the red col
oring matter in the blood.
Hence, provision OF Just the right amount OF oxygen
for deep sea divers is Of the greatest Importance.
One Of the greatest handicaps to divers is, OF course,
what is known as compressed air illness. When a
diver is exposed to compressed air. the blood passing
into his lungs takes up an increased proportion OF
oxygen and nitrogen
The increased proportion Of nitrogen In the blood
cannot be utilized and it gradually saturates the It's
sues Of the body. The nitrogen gets loose in the form
OF bubbles. Associated with these are paralysis,
asphyxia, and sometimes circulating pain. a pain
so severe that It causes the person to double over.
Divers call this condition the bends"
1t Is recognized now that this condition can be
controlled by providing suitable amounts OF oxygen
under pressure. and that proper compression and
decomposition win prevent development Of the symp-
toms.
At any time q case Of compressed air illness de-
velopS, It can be controlled by accomplishing imme-
ditaely. either In a recompression chamber or by
sending the diver down again.
One Of the most interesting observations is that Of
the occurrence in divers Of sensations in which they
seem to be dizzy, faint. or semi-conscious. but In
which they are nevertheless capable OF answering
questions and conducting themselves In what seems
to be q normal manner. Yet when they come to the
surface they have no memory whatever Of the en-
tire proceeding.
Investigators believe that this Is a form Of psyche
logical disturbance which does not occur with all peo-
pie, but only with certain types.
Hence they say that the type most likely to be
suitable for deep sea diving Is q strongly built. ath-
letic man. particularly one with a very even dispo-
sition and not likely to be a victim Of mental dis
turbance.