The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-23
DANGER IN HIGH ATTITUDES.

The public, and sometimes the mex
nerienced physician-ineXperie not
in general therapeutics, but in the
physiological effects of altitude on
weak heart-make light of a danger
they cannot understand But II an al
titude of from 1000 TO 5000 feet above
the sea level puts a certain amount OF
strain on a normal heart, ana Dy
rise OF the blood pressure indirectly
also on the small pelfpheral arteries
must not this action be multlpileu III
the case OF a heart suffering IfWn even
an early stage of myocardills, or III tiie
case of arteries with thickcned or car
eified walls. asks the London Lancet.
II is especially the rapidity Of change
from one altitude TO another, with dlt-
ferences from 5000 TO 1000 feet Mhlcn
must be considered There is a can
made on the contracuDility or the
small arteries on the one hand ana on
the amount of muscular force OF the
heart on the other hand, and III the
structures in question cannot respond
TO this call, rupture OF an artery or di-
lation OF the heart may ensue. In the
case OF a normal condition OF the CIR
culatory organs little harm is done be-
yond some transient discomfort such
as dizziness, buzzing in the ears, palpl-
tation, general "malaise, and TINS Of
ten only i'm the case OF people totally
unaccustomed to high attitudes. FOR
such IL is desirable TO take the high
altitude by degrees in two or three
stages. say first stage 1900 feet, sec
ond stage from 2500 TO 5000 feet and
third stage from 1000 20 5000 feet, with
a stay OF one or two days at the inter-
mediate places. The stay at the health
resort will be shortened, II is true. but
on the return journey one short stay
at one intermediate place VIII suihce.
Even a fairly strong heart VIII not
stand an overstrain in the hrst days
spent at a high altitude.
A Dutch lady. about 40 years OF age,
who had spent a life time in the low
lands, came directly up to Adelboden
latitude 1900 feeD. After two days she
went on an excursion with party up
to an Alp 1000 feet high, making the
ascent quite slowly In four hours. Sud
den heart syncope ensued, which last
ed the best part of an hour though
chanced TO be near and could give as
sistance, which was urgently needed.
The patient recovered, but derived no
benefit from fortnights stay, and
had TO return TO the low ground the
worse for her trip and her inconsider-
ate enterprise.
ascents 10 a high altitude are
very injurious 70 patients with arte-
rio-sclerosis, and the mountain rail-
ways up TO 1000 and 10000 feet are posi-
lively dangerous TO an unsuspecting
public. for many persons between the
ages OF 81 and 40 years consider them
selves to be hale and healthy and are
quite unconscious of having advanced
arterio-sclerosis and perchance con-
tracted kidney. An American gentle
man, aged 5S years. was under my care
for slight symptoms OF angina pectoris,
pointing to scierosis of the coronary
arteries. A two months course Of
treatment at zurich with massage,
baths and proper exercise and diet did
away with all the symptoms. / saw
him by chance some months later. my
son is going 10 st. Moritz 10000 feeO for
the summer" said he. May ! go with
him?" Most certainly not" was my
answer. The patient then consulted
professor, who allowed him to go. Cir
cumstances, however. took him for the