Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from On the "Progress of Architecture in Relation to Ventilation, Warming, Lighting, Fire-Proofing, Acoustics, and the General Preservation of Health"
It is surprising with how small a proportion of air existence can be maintained for a long period when the system is comparatively inactive. Dr. Reid then described an experiment, in which he had been hermeti cally inclosed in a case that was not broader than his shoulders, deeper than his chest, or longer than himself; and stated that he had continued there for upwards of an hour, the attendants being ordered to take him out whenever he ceased to answer questions or to give distinct replies. During the whole of' that period he had not been particularly incommoded, after getting over a feeling of oppression that attended his first respirations. Apprehensive, however, of some subsequent injurious effects when the oppression he expected did not increase so rapidly as he had anticipated, he directed the case to be undone before any indications were given such as would have led his assistants to have anticipated this order. Nor did he suffer so much as he had expected from the effect subsequently, though head ache and restlessness continued for some days to a degree that prevented him from renewing his observations to the extent he had desired.
This experiment was important in corroborating the fact that life might often be sustained for long periods, even in limited quantities of air, where animation was not temporarily suspended.
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