Contributions to vital statistics, obtained by means of a pneumatic apparatus for valuing the respiratory powers with relation to health / [John Hutchinson].

  • Hutchinson, John, 1811-1861
Date:
[1844?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to vital statistics, obtained by means of a pneumatic apparatus for valuing the respiratory powers with relation to health / [John Hutchinson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    desires to know whether the natural secreting organs are acting in excess or in deficiency, and upon this he grounds his opinion as to the healthiness of the particular organs. Every organ, then, has its ap¬ propriate action, which cannot be altered to any material^ amount without the presence of disease; and surely this argument applies with some force to an organ whose action is of such vital importance that its suspension for a very brief period terminates our life. I mean, the “ respiratory functionsthe investigation of the different states of which in various conditions of life forms the subject of the present paper. With the instruments I have constructed, and which are now before the Society, I have measured the volume of air that a man can force out of his chest, together with his power of inspiration and expiration ; these observations I have connected with the state of his health, because I find this to vary according to his volume and power of expiration and inspiration. Simple as this method appears to be, it is extraordinary that up to this time very few have been the physical experiments made upon the lungs, so as to determine with any accuracy even their absolute capacity ; and we are perfectly ignorant as to how much air is necessary for our well-being; nevertheless, this knowledge is perfectly accessible, and the present observations will assist in forming that chain of inquiry. Physiologists generally divide respiration into three or four different stages, and these again will admit of numerous subdivisions. My object has been, first of all, to determine what quantity of air we are able to expel from the lungs by the greatest voluntary effort we are capable of exercising. Owing to the various terms given to designate the different divisions of respiration, I have found it difficult to separate this division from the chaos of physical experiments hitherto made upon the lungs. And what I have gathered from them is of little value, not being connected with any other observations upon the human frame. Another object of my inquiry has been, to determine thtpower of the inspiratory and expiratory muscles; so that observations upon the volume of the lungs, and the power of these two classes of muscles, form the foundation of the present research, combined with certain external measurements. I may here mention that, for brevity’s sake, I have used the term “ capacity” to signify that quantity of air which an individual can force out of his chest by the greatest voluntary expiration, after the greatest voluntary inspiration. With these introductory remarks, I now proceed to the matter of this paper. One thousand one hundred and fifty-one individuals, of different occu¬ pations, have been carefully examined; and, by Table C, now suspended before the Society, the various classes, also the numbers composing those classes, are thus arranged :— Table C. Sailors ....... 121 Fire Brigade.82 Police, Metropolitan. . . .144 Police, Thames.76 Paupers . . . . . , .129 Mixed Class (Artisans) . . 162 First Battalion Grenadier Guards 87 Royal Horse Guards (Blue) . 59 Pugilists, &c. . ... .24 Anomalous cases .... 3 Pressmen.30 Compositors.43 Draymen. ...... 20 Gentlemen.98 Diseased cases ..... 60 Miscellaneous cases. . . . 13 Total . , 1,151