caisson disease

American  

noun

1. aeroembolism.

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caisson disease British  

noun

1. another name for decompression sickness

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Etymology

Origin of caisson disease

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

These effects give rise to what is known as compressed air illness or caisson disease.

From Time Magazine Archive

As most physicians are aware, the caisson disease is an affection of the spinal cord, due to a sudden transition from a relatively high atmospheric pressure to one much lower.

From Scientific American Supplement No. 822, October 3, 1891 by Various

Exposure to such pressures is apt to be followed by disagreeable and even dangerous physiological effects, which are commonly referred to as caisson disease or compressed air illness.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various

The caisson disease is popularly called "the bends" a kind of paralysis which is more or less baffling to medical science.

From Marvels of Modern Science by Severing, Paul

To prevent caisson disease, therefore, the decompression should be slow; Leonard Hill suggests it should be at a rate of not less than 20 minutes for each atmosphere of pressure.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various