CAISSON DISEASE. A rare affection in duced by remaining for any length of time in a caisson. The disease was first described by Vol and Watelle, in 1S-15. The symptoms are buzzing and pain in the ears, dizziness. loss of power in the legs. severe pain in the arms, legs, and shoul ders. bleeding from the nose and lungs. and occasionally unconsciousness. The cause of the disease is uncertain. According to one theory, caisson disease is due to poisoning by carbonic acid. According to another theory, it is due to congestion of the internal organs with subsequent blood-stasis, resulting in possible blocking of the blood-vessels by small thrombi, followed in turn by a necrotic process. Finally, according to a third theory. the disease is due to increased solution by the blood of the compressed gases of the air. (principally nitrogen and carbonic acid) and to their rapid liberation during decompres sion. Judging from the careful observations made in 1801 by Van Rensselaer. the second theory is probably nearest to the truth.
In the treatment of caisson disease, morphia, heat. stimulants. strychnine, and ergot are
recommended. Returning to compressed air for a time, and then emerging very slowly. has bene fited many sufferers. Preventive treatment may consist in securing the removal of carbonic acid from the air in the caisson and increasing the time spent in 'locking out' to one minute for every three pounds of pressure. a sudden transi tion from compressed air to the pressure of the atmosphere being quite dangerous. Above all. only perfectly sound men should be selected for work in caissons. Consult: Pol and Watelle. "Memoire sur les etTets de In compression de Pair," in .1nnales d'hygine publique ct de niedecine legalc (Paris, 1SS4) Oertel, "Hand buch der rc'spiratorischen Therapies" in Ziems sen. Handbuch der allgemeinen Therapie, Band 1, Theil 4 I Leipzig, 18S2) Smith, The Physiolo gical, Pathological, and Therapeutic Effects of Conipre$:sed .1 ir (Detroit. Mich.. 1886) and Lloyd. "Effeets of Compressed Air," in T•en tieth. Century Practice, Vol. III. (New York, 1895) . See FOrNDATION.