| Reference number | EC/1971/06 |
| Previous numbers | Cert XIX, 6 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Dawes, Geoffrey Sharman: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Description | Citation typed |
| Citation | Distinguished for his contributions to the physiology of the foetus and the newborn. Showed that the receptor sites for the Bezold reflex were in the lung and left ventricle and that veratrum alkaloids and many aromatic guanidines and isothioureas acted as stimuli. Showed that the first breath after birth is accompanied by a ten-fold increase in lung blood flow with profound effects on circulation. By cine-angiography and other methods showed that the circulation changed progressively after birth and concept of neonatal circulation established. The ability of the newborn to withstand oxygen lack led to the finding that alkali would prevent permanent asphyxial damage to the brains of monkeys; alkaline infusion is now a standard feature of infant resuscitation after asphyxia. Established that placental O2 consumption was main reason for large maternal-foetal PO2 gradient. By use of cross-circulation between twin foetuses, distinguished between direct and reflex mechanisms involved in increased pulmonary blood flow after birth. Identified aortic chemoreceptor system in foetal sheep sensitive to blood gas tensions and regulating foetal circulation. |
| Access status | Open |
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Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA2139 | Dawes; Geoffrey Sharman (1918 - 1996) | 1918 - 1996 |