Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-13
DANGER IN HIGH ATTITUDES.
How Persons With Heart Troubles Are
Sometimes Affected.
IondOn Lanret.O


The public. and sometimes the iney-
perienced physiCian-ineXperien not
in general therapeutics, But in his
physiological effects Of altitude on
weak heart-rnake light Of a danger
they cannot understand. But if an IT,
titnle OF from 1900 to 5000 feet above
the sea level puts certain amount Of
strain on normal heart and by rise
Of the blood pressure Indirectly also on.
the small peripheral arteries. must not
this action be multiplied in the case
Of heart suffering from even an early
stage of myocarditis. or IN the case Of
arteries which thickened OF eyen calci-
fi-d walls?
II IS especially the .rapility Of the
changes from one altitude to another,
with differences of from 5000 10 #a
I, TT which must be considered There
i cell made on the COntractiblity OF
the small arteries on the ONE hand and
On the amount If muse ular force Of the
heart on the other hand, and If the
Structures in question cannot respond
to this call. rupture of an artery or
dilation of the heart may ensue. In
the case Of a normal condition OF the
ciIculat"ry organs little harm is done
beyond some transient discomfort. such
as dizziness. buzzing in the ears. pal
pitItinn. general ''malaise." and this
oftcn only in the case Of people totally
unaccustomed to high attitudes. For
such it is desirable To take the high
altitude by degrees in TWO or three
stages. say first stage 1900 feet, second
stage from 2lnn to 5000 feet and the
third stage from 1000 to COCO feet. with
stay of one or two DAYS at the inter
mediate places. The stay at the health
II sort will he shortened. ii is true, but
the patient win derive more benefit.
ON the return journey one short stay
AT one intermediate place will suffice.
Even a fairly strong heart will not
stand an oNcrstrain in the first days
spent At 4 high altitude.
\ Dutch lady. about ~ years Of age
VINO had spent lifetime i'm The lowlands
ramt directly mp 10 Adeltoien taitituds
~" f"c1b After TWO days she went on
an excursion with a party up to an Alp
100 feet high. making the ascent quite
slowly in four hours. Sudden heart syn
cope ensued, which lasted the best part
Of an. hour, though CHANGED to be near
ana could give assistance, which was W
gently needed. The patient recovered
but derived no beneht from a fortnlshts
stay, and had 70 return to the low grolnd
the worse for her trip ana her incunsid-
crate enterprise.
Rapid aSccnts Ia a high altitude are
very injurious TO patients with arterio-
Sclerosis. and the mountain railways up
To- fI1 and lo.n" feet are positively dan
g'rous to an unSuSpccting public, for
many persons between the ages of 30 anu
20 years consider themselves To be hal:
and healthy ana are quite unconscious OF
having advanced arterio- sclcroSs ana
perchanCe contracted kidney. An Amefi-
can gentleman. aged - Years, was under
my care for slight symptoms Of angina
prctoriS. pointing 70 SclerosS Of the COZ !
onary yretries a two months course OF
treatment AT Zurich with massage. baths
and proper eNircise and diet did a"a5
with all the symptoms. ! saw MIN ps
chanC" some months later. MY son L
going To st MoritZ W,h icet for me
summer" said he. May | ~ with him
Most certainly not. was my answer
The patient then consulted professor
who allowed him to go. Circumstances,
Sachsein, which is situated at m altltuuss
Of only aOm feet, and he spent sooa
summer. But lie must needs 90 up liz
Pilatus by rail 1000 feet. relying on 'he
professors permission. and the result Wa'
disastrous. Tor he almost died from VIC
lent attack of angina pectors on 'ne
night of his return from the Pliatls, az.
vowed on his return 10 Iurch 70 heeP
under 3ub0 feet in the future. ,.
! may here mention that bad te suir'
in the shape of heart collapse. angina peg
toriS. cardiac asthma ana last. NOT ieast'
apupleXv. often occur only on the retui"
to the low!ands.