THE VENTILATORY RESPONSE TO CARBON DIOXIDE DURING PARTIAL PARALYSIS WITH TUBOCURARINE

The ventilatory response to carbon dioxide of five normal subjectswas measured at two levels of partial paralysis of the respiratoryand peripheral muscles with tubocurarine. During mild paralysisthe mean reduction of vital capacity was 14 per cent, maximumpleural pressure 19 per cent and grip strength 55 per cent ofmeasurements before curarization. With moderate paralysis, meanreduction of vital capacity was 34 per cent, maximum pleuralpressure 28 per cent and grip strength 94 per cent of controlmeasurements. There was no change in the ventilatory responseto carbon dioxide during mild or moderate paralysis.