The effects of high atmospheric pressure, including the caisson disease.

Classic study of caisson disease. Smith was "Late Surgeon to the New York Bridge Co. (Caisson Work)", treating workmen who built the Brooklyn Bridge. The Eads Bridge (St. Louis) and the Brooklyn Bridge (New York City) were testing grounds for caisson construction. These caissons were enormous compressed air boxes used to build riverine piers and abutments anchoring the bridges. Caisson meant faster and cheaper construction, but there was a hidden cost- caisson disease (decompression sickness). Within caissons, workers labored at pressures as high as 55 psig. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link. See also Smith's The physiological, pathological and therapeutical effects of compressed air. (Detroit: George S. Davis, 1886). Digital facsimile of the 1886 work from Google Books at this link.