Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-18

Recent Testimony of Mountaineers as to
It's Effect OH the Human System.
one OF the most interesting parts of
Mr.. Whympers new book on his tray
els among the Andes of the equator.
treat OF the effect of the rarity of tho
air on the human body. Mr.. Whymper
has proved scientifically, what thought
full mOuntaineers have asserted, that
with the dlminution of atmospheric
pressure goes a diminution of physical
power. He has made a more novel
point by insisting that the human
frame is affected in at least two dis
tnct Ways-one by pressure on the in
terna1 organs from the expansion OF
the gases within the body and tho
other by the increased eXertiou re-
Quired to inhale sufficient air to feed
the lungs. The first cause creates tho
most frequent inconvenience on as
cents up to 10000 feet, and the
mountain climber may suffer Sc
tain climber may suffer from it Sc
verely from it one week at 1900 feet
and escape it the next at $4,000 feet,
as it depends largely on the temporary
state of the organs. Mr.. Whymper
wrote his book before Mr.. Vallot had
made his interesting experiments on
the top of Mount Blanc.
Three days residence on the top of
Mount Blanc Q5,7SO feet ,sufficed to
entirely modify the method of my
breathing" Mr.. ValIot SAYS: THE
last day my pulmonary capacity had
notably augmented. The number of
inspirations was seventeen minute in
place of fourteen in the plain. The
depth of the inspirations was doubled.
Thus, the air being twice less dense
than in the plain, there entered twice
as much air in the lungs and the equi-
librilum was thus established. I felt no
symptoms of mountain sickness"
In 1889 Professor Jansen assembled
Mount Blanc. 1t was the theory Of
his that to retain the full use of ones
faculties, mental and bodily, at 10000
feet, it was necessary to avoid physical
eZertiOn, and as he was to undertake
scientific observations he had himself
up on sled to the top. 1t is probable
that neither Whymper nor VallOt
would endorse JanSsen'S theory with
regard to the impairment of the men
TIL faculties at a lofty elevation. Last
year a lot of WOrkmen had some
rough experience on the top of Mount
Blanc, while they were trying to dig a
tunnel there. Their experience led
them to the conclusion that III the
same time they did one-third less work
then they could do at ordinary levels
Nh. FreShfield, the WelI-known
mountaineer, and some other authorit-
les, believe, however, that the lungs
adapt themselves rapidly to new con-
ditiOns, and the limits of their pOWer
OF adaptation must be determined.
The height to be attained by men who
have camped for some time previous
~ at or above 10000 feet remains to be
ascertained. Mr.. Freshfield says it is
evident that the effect Of low atmos-
pheric preSsures is modified or intensi-
fed by accidental atmospheric condi-
tons. During the first ascent of Mt.
ElbruZ in the Caucasus QS,500 feet,
with six men, nobody was affected con-
sciOuslv by the rarity of the air. Dur
Ing the second ascent all the members
of an equally competent party suffered
more or less. The first party made the
ascent when high wind prevailed and
the other when no breeze was stirring.
The inference is that the high wind
brought plenty Of air to the party at
their lofty elevation.
On Monte Rosa, mountain sickness Is
very rare. 1--WE cannot but believe"
M. Freshfield says, that mountains
which project like promontories above
the lOwlands, and up whose slopes rush
draughts of air from the plains, will be
found the best for the attainment for
the highest possible elevations"
MOuntaineers now regard the Asiatic
ranges as the best field for the solution
of the question Of the effects of rarity
of air upon the human system. 1t is
important to bear in mind that atlnOs-
pheric pressure dininishes in a deCreas-
ing ratio rs one ascends, and that the
difference between 1900 and 10000 is
very much less than that between the
sea level and $1,000 feet-Exchange