ABSTRACT
In the course of an investigation into the physiology of the edible snail (Helix pomatia L.), it became necessary to measure the respiration individually of large numbers of animals. A system in which CO2-free air was passed over the animals and then through baryta was tried but rejected because the snails apparently dislike currents of air, tending to withdraw into their shells. Analysis of gas samples from containers in which the animals respire was not employed, partly because the accumulation of CO2 involved may conceivably affect the respiratory exchanges, and partly because the accuracy of the method is insufficient except in very experienced hands. It was therefore decided to adopt a manometric method.
1
Dixon & Elliott derive the simpler integral equation 
by supposing x = 0 when t = 0. As however a is of the same order of magnitude as R/c the expression given above presents a truer picture of the course of events in the respiration chamber. Moreover, it allows the derivation of equation (4), giving a straight line plot for the determination of c, which is preferable to the method of drawing tangents to a curve employed by Dixon & Elliott.
