Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-01-31
THE NEW DISEASE
| FLYING SICKNESS
BY Pae. and lnrI News Service.


A few days ago German medical
paper raised point in connection
with flying which appears to be worth
serious consideration. It was pointed
out that German aviators frequently
suffer from bodily Ills owing to the
extreme variations of temperature and
atmospheric pressure to which they
are exposed, and referred particularly
to dizziness on landing and severe
pains in the head and eyes, which per-
sist until the sufferer falls into deep
sleep, which is also apparently one OF
the symptoms.
In the early days of flying, one oc-
casionally heard of pilots suffering
from dizziness and a singing In the
head on descending from a very high
flight, but the majority OF pilots sell
dom went high enough to feel any i'll
effects.
Before the war, three of four thou
sand feet was considered fair height
for flying across country, because IL at
any time the engine stopped the pilot
had sufficient time to choose his land
ing ground, while IL he were any high
er 1t would practically be impossible
for him to determine this point. Oc-
casionally, in going for records or in
testing the climbing ability of new
machines, aviators went up to 10000
feet or more. but only on very rare
occasions.
When war began it was found that
ct 1000 feet an aeroplane was we'll
within range of rifles and machine gun
fire, and that 1t was necessary to fly
at 5000 feet at least to be clear of II.
After while the German anti.aircraft
gunners began oshoot so accurately
that even 5000 feet became unsafe, as
the German shells carry up to mat
ter OF between $4,000 and 10000 feet.
1t was found, however, that above TO-
600 feet the aim was not particularly
certain. The Germans, on their side,
apparently found exactly the same
thing, as the French and British anti
| aircraft guns and gunners improved
their range and accuracy. The result
has been that of late 10000 feet is re-
garded as an ordinary height for re-
connalssance If the weather Is at all
clear, and to be really safe against
shells from anti-aircraft guns when
crossing hostile lines, 1t Is necessary
to fly at $4,000 feet or whereabouts.
Comparatively few of the aeroplanes
used in the early part of the war were
capable of reaching such height with
their full service load, but the more
modern machines on both p IS can
easily accomplish 1t. Any ) who
has done any mountaineering knows
how frequently people are affected by
air sickness at any height over 10000
feet, especially II, as is possible In
many parts of Switzerland, that height
can be attained quickly on a mountain
railway, and II must be remembered
that modern aeroplane climbs very
much more quickly than do the little
Swiss "funiculars."
Perhaps one or two trips a week to
| these attitudes would do very little
harm to n pilot, but 1t is often neces-
sary for military aviators to make
them several days week, and 1t may
even be necessary two Or three times
in a day. 1t seems possible that per-
manent harm to the system may suf.
fer, not only from the frequency of
these flights, but from the suddenness
of the variation in pressure. for, ma
tutally, as soon as he crosses the
enemy's lines on his homeward jour-
ney he comes down as quickly as pos.
sible.
There is disease known as "cais-
son disease" which affects divers and
men working in air locks in the Gals.
sons which are used in building the
underwater sections of bridges, and
-