The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-21
LIFE ON MONT BLANC.
Scientific Observers as Badly OF
There as Arctic Explorers.

Life in the observatory on the sum-
nit of Mont Blanc Is even frostier
than on an arctic expedition. The OBJ
servatory was founded by Pierre
Jansen, the French physicist, in 1893
and since the first ascent Of the noun.
tain in 1856 temperature above
freezing was never recorded there UNI
I'll 1906. when for few minutes q
temperature Of two degrees cent?
grade, or about Sc degrees Fahren-
heit was observed.
The observatory Is generally occu-
pied from about the beginning OF
June to the end of September. These
are the utmost limits at which men
could live there. The work is both
astronomical and meteorological.
One of the greatest drawbacks to the
work is the stream of tourists in
July and August, who expect to have
everything shown to them regardless
OF the loss OF time to the men of
science.
One of these, w de Fouvielle. in O.
recent account Of the work on tho
mountain top dwels on the courage
that 1t takes to spend weeks and
months amid the monotony Of the
snowfields and glaciers. The mental
depression Is all the harder TO fight on
account Of the physical conditions 10
which it is very difficult to become
accustomed.
Al that elevation human beings arc
tortured by an unceasing thirst duc
to the rapid evaporation of moisture
from the body. On the other hand,
the appetite almost entirely disap-
pears.
At first all the system can stand in
a few glasses of warm tea daily, with
plenty of sugar and pulverized milk
III 1t. Recourse to alcohol is absolute
ly forbidden. Spirits of all sorts arc
found to be exceedingly harmful.
When the men begin to get accli-
mated, diet priclpally made up OF
meat is found to be best. The meat
is carried UP from Chamounix and
frozen in order to insure its prese,ya-
ton
1t is stored in the cellar of the OBJ
seryatory, where the temperature .
ranges from u to is degrees Fahren-
heit. Canned or preserved meat is
never used II is found to be TOO
trying to the digestive powers. in that
region.
The meat is for the most part
boiled Green vegetables are eaten
with it to prevent scuryy or similar
disorders.
The process of cooking is far moro
.edious than at ordinary levels. As
water boils far below 2I2 degrees, 1t
axes four or five times as mucn boil
Ing 10 render the food fit to be eaten
As it does in ordinary places.
The scientific men who spend their
summers at the observatory have to
live in Arctic clothing They spend day
and night in an atmosphere al freez-
ng point. II is true that the bnilding
s warmed with fires of coal aud wood.
But it Is only warmed 80 degrees Fab
'enheit. The moisture from the
'reath of the inhabitants condenses
N the walls in a Thin coating of ice.
md icicles depend from the ceilings
nd beams an llntels, When il gets
little too warm the ice melts and
here is veritable rainfall in every
ocm.
The observers gradually learn to to
at 50 degrees They take
fl their gloves to handle the more
eicate instruments, They sleep in
ags and keep their health. When
hey go home for the winter they
ont feel the cold. Their scientific
York is, besides, generally recognized
s compensation for all they endure
0 accomplish it.