Evening star., 1919-03-02


the chair tests. but many who
showed abnormal on 1t really made
good fiers. Much OF the data must
be worked over again. ut is just
one Of many tests" j am assured,
and nowadays not one man in 200 is
sponse to the chair. because IL there
is anything really wrong with him 1t
will show up In other ways by other
tests"
The striking apparatus Of the future
seems to be this "rebreather" for the
low oxygen test. Service fiiers will
doubtless have to undergo It periodi-
cally, as in war times (will tramp
fiSrs' be permitted to carry passen-
gers at all?).
The man being tested by tho re-
breather fs fitted with a mouthpiece
and noseclip similar to those used in
the gas mask and breathes air from
tank. AS he himself acts as an oxy-
gen absorber the percentage of oxy-
gen in the air of the tank ts gradually
reduced, the carbon dioxfde and other
impurities being taken out as the air
passes back into the tank. This re-
duced oxygen percentage In the air
breathed causes similar effects in tho
circulatory system and breathing to
those experienced under rarefied at
mospheric conditions at high alti-
tudes
This particular test lasts from
twenty to twenty-five minutes, and
during 1t the subjects breathing is
automatically recorded and his pulse
and blood pressure taken at one min
may be noted. At three minute inter-
walls tests are made on the eyes, to
ascertain II the vision Is affected. and
during the whole test he is kept
busy touching contact points CORE
spending to miniature lights, which
fash every Ave seconds. He must also
keep an indicator adjusted and con-
troll an electric motor with his foot.
1t is not constant work, but changing;
and none OF it is OF any Importance
occupied as he would be If in the air
to see when he breaks down under
1t all.
The psychologist continually OBJ
serves him. For the first ten minutes
there is no particular change, and tho
the mans particular way of doing
these things. After ten minutes. when
the effect generally starts, change
is generally detected in his normal
way of doing them. In word, the
man is Judged not by set standard.
but by his own standard or normal.
it Is simply way to tell how soon
his coordination and perception be-
gin to be affected by high altitude and
changes Of altitude. Toward the end
OF run ne Will miss one or some
times all the tasks, not only failing
TO hit the buttons, but actually de-
claring. when taken off, that he hit
them every time. The effect is not
uncomfortable, but rather like two
scotch high balls on an empty stom-
ach. That is why altitude is so tricky
and these tests so necessary.
During the tests a heart expert
makes frequent observations 1t is he
VINO finally takes the man off. Final
ly, when you have all the data they
are plotted on cross-section paper. and
they read like the performance of a
motor. A type Of curve means this,
another. that; SO that when a man is
through It Is possible to form an ac-
curate opinion of his physical condi-
tion--whether he ts suffering from
staleness.
The man may continue to feel per-
fectly well, but there comes mo-
ment when he must be taken off,
nevertheless perhaps suddenly and
be given normal air. All show 1t.
About 80 per cent show definite physi-
cal changes after attaining an oxy-
gen percentage corresponding to be-
tween 5000 and IL, coo feet of altitude.
respond between 10000 and 1900 feet
while i've men In the 100 show def
mite changes below 5000 feet, some
mon being quite sensitive.
X X
these follows who have flown
around $4,000 feet" said Hanson, land
declare that they feel all right. are
not in q position to know whether
they feel all right or not. One re-
Gently made record in the Dayton
field. He was wise enough to take
oxygen when he needed 1t. When
asked what made him think he need
ed oxygen, he said that the earth was
at one side of him instead of being
under him. He figured that he was
flying perfectly right, but that the
earth was wrong, but after side
slipping down to a lower altitude,
where he was brought to his senses,
no reasoned out that the best thing to
do when the earth gets away from un-
der you Is to take oxygen"
All right for war and record-b break
Ing. but we are coming into plain
business flying of peace. Need the
routine fiers Of peace require periodi-
cal tests?
This affair of attitudes" I said.
twill 1t not become less significant?
Fighting men, of course. were often
F<~v III