A lecture upon the Zopuron : as lately delivered at the Sunderland Infirmary / by William Reid Clanny.

Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture upon the Zopuron : as lately delivered at the Sunderland Infirmary / by William Reid Clanny. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    by artificial means, the air comes into immediate contact with the air-cells the moment it is inhaled or sent in; whilst a portion which has been con- verted into carbonic acid gas in the lungs, is, at the next expiration, exhaled, at the same time the azote undergoes no change as to quantity or quality. For, in my opinion, the azote is merely negative in the process of respira- tion, being the vehicle or medium by which the oxygen, in a divided state, comes more readily into contact with the air-cells of the lungs, and is, consequently, more readily convertible into carbonic acid gas ; and for atmospheric air only, the lungs are fitted. Atmospheric air, after being once, only, admitted to the lungs, returns charged with 8 per cent of car- bonic acid gas. During the process of respiration there is a constant exhalation of water from the lungs in the form of vapour. This vapour, when condensed, is estimated at 19 ounces per diem. Those persons who play upon wind instruments find this vapour to increase in proportion to the length of time in which they are so occupied ; and frequently the quantity of vapour condensed within wind instruments, is astonishingly great. In my opinion the carbon of tlie blood is given out from the lungs suspended in this vapour, and in this state it comes into contact with the inhaled oxygen of the atmospheric air, and is converted into carbonic acid gas in the air-cells of the lungs, by reason of its superior affinity for oxy- gen. From the recent experiments of Majendie we are compelled to admit that this vapour proceeds from the blood of the pulmonary artery ; and also from those arteries which are distributed over the mucous membrane of the air-cells. Though the experiments of Majendie have been most valuable and conclusive, I shall not take up your time, nor shock your feelings, by detailing them. All the blood of the body must pass through the lesser circulation, as it is called, or the circulation of the lungs. It is supposed by some philosophers, that oxygen gas enters into the blood vessels of the system by means of respiration, and there, meeting with carbon, is converted [B]