REALISTIC EXPERIMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23324, 21 July 1939, Page 9

REALISTIC EXPERIMENT

PROFESSOR AND ASSISTANTS LOCKED IN AIRTIGHT CHAMBER THETIS CONDITIONS REPRODUCED UNABLE TO USE DAVIS APPARATUS AT END OF FOURTEEN HOURS Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 20. (Received July 21, at 10 a.m.) At'the Thetis inquiry Professor Haldane described a remarkable experiment in which he was locked in an airtight steel chamber for 141 hours on June 13 in order to reproduce conditions existing in the Thetis and to determine whether those entrapped were capable of using the Davis escape apparatus. The chamber’s diameter and height were both 78in. When Professor Haldane entered it at 10 p.m. the air in the chamber contained 2.3 per cent, carbon dioxide, roughly corresponding to the air the Thetis men were breathing at 10 p.m. on the evening after the dive. He slept intermittently, Captain Oram periodically observing his condition from the outside. The percentage at 8.30 a.m. was 4.7 and rose to 5.35 at 11.15 a.m., when Professor Haldane tvas panting heavily and suffering a headache. His symptoms became worse rapidly from then on. Captain Oram spoke to him by telephone at noon telling Professor Haldane that he was worse than the Thetis men when Captain Oram escaped 17 hours after the dive. Professor Haldamo left the chamber at 12.40 p.m. with a violent headache and put on the Davis breathing apparatus. An assistant had to turn on the oxygen tap because Professor Haldane was too weak. He breathed for a short time, then vomited violently and was repeatedly forced to remove the apparatus- The wearer ordinarily controlled the oxygen. His condition corresponded with the Thetis men who might have tried to escape after Captain Oram got to the surface. Professor Haldane added that he was accompanied by four assistants. He later entered the chamber, in which the carbon dioxide was 6.5 per cent., representing conditions existing in the Thetis at 10 a.m. One felt very bad when the carbon dioxide was 6 per cent. All experienced a marked dulling of the mental faculities when they left the chamber and breathed by means of the Davis apparatus. .Three showed acute distress and would be incapable of doing much. The ■fourth victim vomited violently. If calm they might have escaped by means of the Davis apparatus from a submarine, but there was danger of a panic with such mental and physical distress. If the men vomited in the flooded chamber they would have been drowned. “ It might be of some comfort if I say that I believe that the Thetis victims did not suffer severe pain,” said Professor Haldane. “ They might have suffered headaches. Although the panting sensation is most unpleasant it is not the intolerable feeling of bursting lungs one might get if buried alive. It could not in any degree be called torture. You gradually get less sensible.” The-judge paid tribute to Professor Haldane’s fortitude. The inquiry was adjourned pending salvage of the Thotis. [Professor Haldane has been Professor of Biometry at University College, London, since 1937.] ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO LIFT SUBMARINE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 20. (Received July 21, at 11.30 a.m.) After Professor Haldane’s evidence the Thetis inquiry adjourned for one wqek. If the weather is favourable it is hoped that an attempt will be made to lift the Thetis at to-morrow night’s low tide.