THIS MONTH IN AEROSPACE MEDICINE HISTORY
Seventy-Five Years Ago in September 1939
this oxygen concentration at a pressure of 4.6 psia (equivalent to 29,000 feet) was the cabin atmosphere generally favored. Therefore, the initial New equipment to test pilot fitness to fly (Research Laboratory of experiments were undertaken to determine whether oxygen enrichPhysiological Optics, Baltimore, MD): “With the growing conviction that ment could be maintained at some concentration less than 100% but the pilot is an important factor in the increasing number of airplane significantly more than atmospheric without increasing the fire hazard crashes, it seems that more attention should be paid to fitness in the presented by the ignition of clothing. Subsequently the study was selection of pilots and to making sure that they are fit for service at all broadened to include a range of pressures and a diluent other than times when they are called upon to render service. It is strange indeed nitrogen… that so much care is taken to see that the plane is in perfect condition “This study, designed to ascertain the feasibility of oxygen enrichbefore a flight is undertaken and so little attention is given to the conment of capsular environments without increasing clothing fire hazdition of the pilot. While it is true that a human being cannot be treated ard, has: 1) revealed that under the conditions of these experiments, as a machine, we do know that he is subject to many disturbances with the best fire-resistant clothing material available, only a 10 per from day to day that render him unfit for those services which require cent increase in oxygen concentration may be realized in an oxygena supernormal fitness and proficiency and involve a responsibility for nitrogen atmosphere irrespective of pressure; similarly, a 20 per cent human life and safety. These disturbances can be shown by test… increase, if argon is used; 2) demonstrated the existence and progression “The instrument [Fig. 1] makes possible: (a) the use of a set of very of the damping effect of inert gases; and 3) suggested a means of exsensitive tests which take into account as no other tests do both the tending observations made in one gaseous environment to any other motor and the sensory functions of the eyes in just the proportion that of known physical properties. they occur in the act of seeing objects in different directions and at dif“It is concluded that significant oxygen enrichment may be achieved ferent distances, (b) the testing of the dynamic speed of vision with safely only by introduction of a physiologically safe gas or gas mixeither the oculomotor or the accommodative feature emphasized and tures at least twice as dense as nitrogen” (1). (c) the measurement of the time required to change from near to far and from far to near in combination or separately. Delivered by Ingenta to: Guest User Twenty-Five Years Ago in September 1989 “The following practical uses of the instrument and test procedure IP: 185.14.194.143 On: Sun, 26 2016 ’s02:47:24 TheJun Association new building is a year old (from Minutes of the 1989 are discussed: (1) a test of vocational fitness in all cases in which dyCopyright: Aerospace Medical Association Annual Business Meeting): “President Lestage suggested that we look namic speed of vision is an important requirement; (2) a test of pilot at our 60 years as a period of growth end transition rather than matufitness for aviation; (3) a specific performance test of fitness for night rity. In keeping with that philosophy, he noted that we had acquired a flying; (4) a test of disturbance in fitness due to altitude; (5) a limiting new home, which he described as ‘a place to be proud of.’ The Executive test for age as a factor in fitness; (6) a means of measuring ocular faCommittee held its Fall meeting in the new building on Sept. 26, 1988, tigue and recovery, of testing individual susceptibility to fatigue and only 1 week after our move. The formal ribbon-cutting took place on capacity to recover, and of detecting disturbances in fitness from other Nov. 30, 1988, with the Executive Council present during their lunch causes such as loss of sleep, worry and all mental states that distract recess. President Lestage noted with pleasure that, in spite of the dues attention, et cetera; and (7) as a means of training eyes to greater ocuincrease, our membership was holding steady or increasing slightly. lomotor and accommodative facility” (2). He gave most of the credit for this to the Membership Committee, under Col. Luttman’s leadership. President Lestage also noted that, in Fifty Years Ago in September 1964 spite of the increase in our annual meeting registration fees, we expeSafe oxygen environments for flammable clothing (Aviation Medical rienced the highest advance registration ever” (3). [Editor ’s note: Deed Acceleration Laboratory, U.S. Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, for the Alexandria property was dated September 15, 1988, from PA): “Observations of enhancement in burning rates of fabrics and the Meushaw Development Company, Inc., and recorded September 19, unquenchability of fires in capsular environments of 100% oxygen 1988, in the land records of the City of Alexandria, VA.] prompted the present investigation. At the time of these observations REFERENCES 1. Chianta MA, Stoll AM. Effect of oxygen enriched atmospheres on the burning rate of fabrics. J Aerosp Med 1964; 35(9):870–873. 2. Ferree CE, Rand G. An instrument for testing pilot fitness. J Aviat Med 1939; 11(3):114–128. 3. Minutes of the 1989 annual business meeting. Aviat Space Environ Med 1989; 60(9):846–847.
Fig. 1. The electrical tachistoscope in operation at a test station in Chicago. The setup is for measuring speed of adjustment for change of distance of object.
976
This column is prepared each month by Walter Dalitsch III, M.D., M.P.H. Most of the articles mentioned here were printed over the years in the official journal of the Aerospace Medical Association. These and other articles are available for download from Mira via https://submissions.miracd.com/asmaarchive/Login.aspx. Reprint & Copyright © by the Aerospace Medical Association, Alexandria, VA. DOI: 10.3357/ASEM.4070.2014
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine x Vol. 85, No. 9 x September 2014
Seventy-Five Years Ago in September 1939
this oxygen concentration at a pressure of 4.6 psia (equivalent to 29,000 feet) was the cabin atmosphere generally favored. Therefore, the initial New equipment to test pilot fitness to fly (Research Laboratory of experiments were undertaken to determine whether oxygen enrichPhysiological Optics, Baltimore, MD): “With the growing conviction that ment could be maintained at some concentration less than 100% but the pilot is an important factor in the increasing number of airplane significantly more than atmospheric without increasing the fire hazard crashes, it seems that more attention should be paid to fitness in the presented by the ignition of clothing. Subsequently the study was selection of pilots and to making sure that they are fit for service at all broadened to include a range of pressures and a diluent other than times when they are called upon to render service. It is strange indeed nitrogen… that so much care is taken to see that the plane is in perfect condition “This study, designed to ascertain the feasibility of oxygen enrichbefore a flight is undertaken and so little attention is given to the conment of capsular environments without increasing clothing fire hazdition of the pilot. While it is true that a human being cannot be treated ard, has: 1) revealed that under the conditions of these experiments, as a machine, we do know that he is subject to many disturbances with the best fire-resistant clothing material available, only a 10 per from day to day that render him unfit for those services which require cent increase in oxygen concentration may be realized in an oxygena supernormal fitness and proficiency and involve a responsibility for nitrogen atmosphere irrespective of pressure; similarly, a 20 per cent human life and safety. These disturbances can be shown by test… increase, if argon is used; 2) demonstrated the existence and progression “The instrument [Fig. 1] makes possible: (a) the use of a set of very of the damping effect of inert gases; and 3) suggested a means of exsensitive tests which take into account as no other tests do both the tending observations made in one gaseous environment to any other motor and the sensory functions of the eyes in just the proportion that of known physical properties. they occur in the act of seeing objects in different directions and at dif“It is concluded that significant oxygen enrichment may be achieved ferent distances, (b) the testing of the dynamic speed of vision with safely only by introduction of a physiologically safe gas or gas mixeither the oculomotor or the accommodative feature emphasized and tures at least twice as dense as nitrogen” (1). (c) the measurement of the time required to change from near to far and from far to near in combination or separately. Delivered by Ingenta to: Guest User Twenty-Five Years Ago in September 1989 “The following practical uses of the instrument and test procedure IP: 185.14.194.143 On: Sun, 26 2016 ’s02:47:24 TheJun Association new building is a year old (from Minutes of the 1989 are discussed: (1) a test of vocational fitness in all cases in which dyCopyright: Aerospace Medical Association Annual Business Meeting): “President Lestage suggested that we look namic speed of vision is an important requirement; (2) a test of pilot at our 60 years as a period of growth end transition rather than matufitness for aviation; (3) a specific performance test of fitness for night rity. In keeping with that philosophy, he noted that we had acquired a flying; (4) a test of disturbance in fitness due to altitude; (5) a limiting new home, which he described as ‘a place to be proud of.’ The Executive test for age as a factor in fitness; (6) a means of measuring ocular faCommittee held its Fall meeting in the new building on Sept. 26, 1988, tigue and recovery, of testing individual susceptibility to fatigue and only 1 week after our move. The formal ribbon-cutting took place on capacity to recover, and of detecting disturbances in fitness from other Nov. 30, 1988, with the Executive Council present during their lunch causes such as loss of sleep, worry and all mental states that distract recess. President Lestage noted with pleasure that, in spite of the dues attention, et cetera; and (7) as a means of training eyes to greater ocuincrease, our membership was holding steady or increasing slightly. lomotor and accommodative facility” (2). He gave most of the credit for this to the Membership Committee, under Col. Luttman’s leadership. President Lestage also noted that, in Fifty Years Ago in September 1964 spite of the increase in our annual meeting registration fees, we expeSafe oxygen environments for flammable clothing (Aviation Medical rienced the highest advance registration ever” (3). [Editor ’s note: Deed Acceleration Laboratory, U.S. Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, for the Alexandria property was dated September 15, 1988, from PA): “Observations of enhancement in burning rates of fabrics and the Meushaw Development Company, Inc., and recorded September 19, unquenchability of fires in capsular environments of 100% oxygen 1988, in the land records of the City of Alexandria, VA.] prompted the present investigation. At the time of these observations REFERENCES 1. Chianta MA, Stoll AM. Effect of oxygen enriched atmospheres on the burning rate of fabrics. J Aerosp Med 1964; 35(9):870–873. 2. Ferree CE, Rand G. An instrument for testing pilot fitness. J Aviat Med 1939; 11(3):114–128. 3. Minutes of the 1989 annual business meeting. Aviat Space Environ Med 1989; 60(9):846–847.
Fig. 1. The electrical tachistoscope in operation at a test station in Chicago. The setup is for measuring speed of adjustment for change of distance of object.
976
This column is prepared each month by Walter Dalitsch III, M.D., M.P.H. Most of the articles mentioned here were printed over the years in the official journal of the Aerospace Medical Association. These and other articles are available for download from Mira via https://submissions.miracd.com/asmaarchive/Login.aspx. Reprint & Copyright © by the Aerospace Medical Association, Alexandria, VA. DOI: 10.3357/ASEM.4070.2014
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine x Vol. 85, No. 9 x September 2014
