RESPIRATORY RESISTANCE, OIL-WATER SOLUBILITY, AND MENTAL EFFECTS OF ARGON, COMPARED WITH HELIUM AND NITROGEN

Abstract

Simulated breathing resistance was tested in a respiratory resistance machine which admitted to and withdrew from a Benedict spirometer 32 liters of gas per min. The tested gas mixtures were: 86% A-14% N, 76% He-4% N-20% O, and air. At pressures of 1 to 4 atms. the resistance to the passage of these gases to and from the spirometer varied as the square roots of their specific gravities (air=l). The oil-water solubility ratio for A is 5.32 to 1 compared with a value of 524 to 1 for N, and 1.7 to 1 for He. A is twice as soluble, however, in water and in oil compared with N. The narcotic effect of A is greater than that of N at high pressures of 4 to 10 atms.. corresponding to depths of 100 to 300 feet. At a pressure of 1 atm. no difference could be detected between A, N, or He with respect to respiratory resistance or psychologic effects.