Ventilatory Function Tests on the Silicotics under the Vairous Oxygen Tensions

Abstract

The resting minute volume and the 40kg loading exercise ventilation were measured on 58 healthy and 101 silicotic subjects, in various concentrations of oxygen. The results may be summarized as follows: 1) The resting minute volume was affected little, if any. by the age, and the silicotic in general showed slightly low value as compared with the control group. 2) In the 10% oxygen environment, both the healthy and the silicotic groups showed markedly increased resting minute volumes when compared with those in the room air. The elevation of the volumes was particularly remarkable in the latter group, but the situation was rather reversed after 50 years of age. 3) In the 80% oxygen environment. there was a tendency to increase the resting minute volumes in both groups to a slight degree. 4) The exercise ventilation was larger in the silicotics than in the control group. and the difference was widened greatly with the growing age