A STUDY OF THE GASEOUS EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM AND THE LUNGS

Abstract

Radon dissolved in normal saline was injected into a vein in the leg of a dog. The dog''s expired air was collected in successive intervals of time and its radon content detd. by a Geiger-Muller counter. 6 dogs were studied over a period of time and under varying conditions. The radon was eliminated exponentially. The elimination constant was not influenced by variations of pulse rate; cardiac output; nor by a pneumothorax. Hyper-ventilation caused a drastic change in the elimination constant. Normally about the radon is eliminated in one min., with hyper-ventilation this time is reduced to about \ of a min.