On 15 November 1997, the first international symposium "Neural and Chemical Control of Breathing: Pharmacological and Clinical Aspects" was held at Leiden University Medical Center on the occasion of the retirement of one of the members of the Control of Breathing Research Group of the Departments of Physiology and Anesthesiology, Dr. Aad Berkenbosch. Among others, Dr. Berkenbosch, played an important role in this research group, which made a large and significant contribution to scientific research on the regulation of breathing. This book presents the proceedings of that meeting together with papers of several authors who have strong bonds with the Leiden Departments of Physiology and Anesthesiology. All studies represent state of the art work on the subject of respiratory control and cardiovascular medicine, with emphasis on the physiological, pharmacological and anesthesiological aspects of both fields. The book is divided in several sections: Oxygen Physiology. Prof. John Severinghaus presents among other things his ideas on oxygen sensing and high altitude related diseases. Prof. Honda gives results from studies in a unique set of subjects without carotid bodies. The findings of Honda's group support the idea that an intact hypoxic drive from the carotid bodies is necessary for the generation of central hypoxic depression. Dr. Hans van Beek discusses the effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia on cardiac contractility in animal models. Prof. Oeseburg demonstrates the feasibility of Near Infra Red Oximetry for monitoring tissue oxygenation in patients. Central Chemoreception.