1. A method for the pulmonary ventilation of a human patient, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting an inspiratory time period, an inspiratory flow rate, a peak inspiratory pressure limit, and an inspiratory tidal volume limit; (b) at the beginning of the inspiratory time period, providing a flow of respiratory gas to the patient at the selected inspiratory flow rate, while impeding an expiratory flow from the patient; (c) limiting the peak inspiratory pressure during inspiration to the selected peak inspiratory pressure limit; (d) measuring the inspiratory tidal volume of the patient during the inspiratory time period; (e) (1) periodically comparing the measured inspiratory tidal volume to the selected inspiratory tidal volume limit during the inspiratory time period; and (e) (2) ceasing to impede the expiratory flow from the patient when the selected inspiratory time period elapses or when the selected tidal volume limit is reached, whichever first occurs.