THE PROFESSOR AND THE CANARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3152, 2 August 1917, Page 9

THE PROFESSOR AND THE CANARY

SCIENTIST UNDERGOES PARTIAL ASPHYXIATION.

Professor J. S. Haldnno recently conducted several amazing experiments . before the members of the Union of Scientific Societies. The famous scientist volunteered to undergo partial asphyxiation with a ; canary as-'a safety ■ indicator. Poisonous gas was pumped into the chamber where was a cage with a tube of oxygen attached. The cauary soon retired from his perch, and then- fell unconscious. Professor Haluane immediately turned on tho oxygen whereupon the bird revived at once, .to the satisfaction of all. The members were assured that tho bird—w-ho had been under the operation before-had no pain, the experience being similar to that of an anaesthetic. . , ~ : In an address on "Abnormal Atmospheres," he said "that mice and canaries were playing their parts in the fighting in the trenches of Prance. It was customary to use small w.arm-blooded animals or birds for the purpose of detectin" dangorous air or gases. After making a test of several rescue apparatuses, lie had come fo the conclusion that some were nothing but elaborate death-traps, though some used at the front were doing much good. Professor Hnldano said that during the ivav some men were ..rescued from an American submarine. One man was unconscious, his heart and pulse not beating. He was put into a compressed air chamber at once, two naval doctors with him. One doctor's ear-drums -were lytptured, but tho unconscious man spiang to the telephone and reported the of the day. (Laughter.) : j