#pysiologist

[scotianostra]

May 2nd 1860 saw the birth of physiologist John Scott Haldane in Edinburgh.

Haldane has been described as a versatile genius who solved several problems of great practical significance. His work on high altitude physiology, diving physiology, oxygen therapy, and carbon monoxide poisoning led to a sea change in clinical medicine and improved safety and reduced mortality and morbidity in many high risk situations.

John Haldane attended Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh University and the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. He graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University Medical School in 1884. In 1906, Haldane, discovered that the respiratory reflex was triggered by an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, rather than a lack of oxygen. He went on to experiment on himself breathing several toxic gases to find out more about them, the main discovery was that carbon monoxide was the cause of deaths in the depths of mines, he suggested that miners carry small animals like mice or canaries to detect dangerous levels of the gas in their working environment, it wasn’t until the 80’s that this method was replaced by electronic gas detectors.

The following year again using himself as the “guinea pig” he made great strides in making deep sea diving safer when he designed a decompression chamber.

During the First World War Haldane was able to identify the use of disabling chlorine and phosgene gas by the Germans, and designed the first gas masks for use in chemical warfare and also an oxygen therapy equipment to treat its victims.

John Scott Haldane died in Oxford on the night of 14 March/15 March 1936, soon after returning from a trip to investigate cases of heat stroke in the oil refineries in Persia, he made lasting contributions to improved working conditions years before health and safety itself became an industry, and he never failed to give credit to colleagues. He is considered as ‘Father of Oxygen Therapy Ponies Scotland

Pics are of Haldane and some showing his aparatus, you have to say, that's an impressive moustache the man had!