This page is an English translation of the original Italian article. The original publication date and historical context have been preserved.
In Italian, decompression illness was historically associated with malattia dei cassoni—caisson disease. In English it is commonly called “the bends”. Where did that name come from?
The story takes us back to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when workers excavated the bottoms of rivers, lakes and harbours inside large structures called caissons. These chambers were filled with compressed air to prevent water from entering. Workers accessed them through shafts and pressure locks, while the bottom remained open so excavation could continue.
Although they were not scuba divers, the workers were exposed to the same physical laws. Rapid pressure changes could lead to the formation of gas bubbles in body tissues and produce decompression sickness. At the time, such cases were common.
Many affected workers experienced severe joint and muscular pain that forced them into a stooped or bent posture. That characteristic appearance is generally associated with the expression “the bends”.
More rigorous scientific observation of these accidents eventually helped physicians and researchers understand decompression. Their work contributed to the theories and procedures that later shaped modern diving practice.
