The Effects of Synthetic Atmospheres of Hydrogen and Oxygen upon Animal Life

Abstract

Aboqt ten years ago experiments on the effects of synthetic atmospheres on animal life were begun at McPherson College. The original purpose of the experiments was to determine the duration of animal life in pure unadulterated oxygen. It was found that animals lived from two to five days in oxygen, thus proving the necessity of the presence of some other gas which does not support life. Experiments were then undertaken to find a satisfactory substitute for nitrogen and a number of the inert gases were tried with the satisfying result of finding a mixture superior to air. This was a combination of helium and oxygen.