Professor Locked in Chamber to Recall Thetis Conditions

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1939, Page 5

Professor Locked in Chamber to Recall Thetis Conditions

(Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. THE THETIS INQUIRY, PROFESSOR J. B. HALDANE DESCRIBED A REMARKABLE EXPERIMENT IN WHICH HE WAS LOCKED IN AN AIR-TIGHT STEEL CHAMBER FOR 14J HOURS ON JUNE 13, IN ORDER TO REPRODUCE CONDITIONS EXISTING IN THE THETIS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE ENTRAPPED WOULD BE CAPABLE OF USING THE DAVIS ESCAPE APPARATUS. The chamber’s diameter and height were both 78 inches. When witness entered at 10 p.m., the chamber’s air contained 2.3 per cent, of carbondioxide, roughly corresponding to the air which the Thetis men would be. breathing at 10 o’clock on the night after the dive. He slept intermittently, Captain H. E. Oram, who escaped from the Thetis, periodically observing his condition from outside. The percentage at 8.30 a.m. was 4.7, and rose to 5.35 at 11.15 a.m., when he was panting heavily and suffering headache. The symptoms worsened rapidly after that. Captain Oram spoke to him by telephone at 12 o’clock noon, tolling witness that he was worse than the Thetis men wore when he (Captain Oram) escaped 17 hours after the dive. Professor Haldane 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 he was too weak.

He breathed for a short time, then 1 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. Brain Dulled. Professor Haldane added that, accompanied by four assistants, he later entered the chamber, in which carbondioxide was 5.55 per cent, representing the conditions in the Thetis at about 10 a.m. One felt very bad, and when carbon-dioxide was 6 per cent. all experienced marked dulling of mental faculties. When they left the chamber, they breathed by means of the Davis apparatus. Three showed acute distress, and would be incapable of doing much. The fourth victim vomited violently.

<B*. If in calm water, they might have escaped by the Davis apparatus from a submarine, but there would be danger of panic with such mental and physical distress. If men vomited in a flooded chamber, said the Professor, they would be drowned. “No Severe Pain.” “It might be some comfort if I say I believe the men in the Thetis did not suffer severe pain. They might have had headaches. Although the panting sensation is most unpleasant, it is not an intolerable feeling, like the bursting of the lungs one would get if buried alive. “It could not by any degree bo called torture. You gradually got less sensible.” Mr Joseph Bucknill paid a tribute 1o Professor Haldane’s fortitude. The inquiry was adjourned pending salvage of the Thetis.