Abstract
I DOUBT if whales avoid caisson disease—the usual consequence of deep diving—by filling their lungs with sea-water as Dr. J. Argyll Campbell suggests1. Where whales abound, the temperature of the water is sometimes as low as 28° or 29° F. Moreover, their valvular blow-holes seem designed to keep out the sea-water: not to let it in. So far as I have observed, whales expel water from their blow-holes only in the form of vapour.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
NATURE, 134, 629, Oct. 20, 1934.
"Arctic Regions,” vol. 1, p. 456.
NATURE, 99, 636, April 30, 1927.
"The Physiology of Whales”, Naturalist, August 1934.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GRAY, R. Whales and Caisson Disease. Nature 134, 853 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/134853a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/134853a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.