Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03
BY Arthur G. Jacobson, M. D.
Associate Editor Of the Medical Times.

STTHE newly created and extensive air
services Of all the bellgerent ma
lions, a product OF war. now lie
ready for the benefcent purposes OF
peace.
Among those purposes, we are con-
vinced will be the still more successful
treatment of tuberculosis, for advantage
VIII be taken OF the extraordinary physio-
logical effects produced by flying, all of
which seem we'll calculated to aid the or.
ganism afflicted by tuberculosis.
II has also been suggested in the same
quarter from which the idea of utilizing
controlled altitude in the treatment Of
tuberculosis emanated that by the same
means we might be able TO influence fav-
orably the grave anemias, particularly
that most battling OF diseases, pernicious
anemia.
AS one rises far above sea level less
and less oxygen is taken into the system
At sea leXel our atmospheric air contains
anout "a per cent OF oxygen; at 1000 feet
elevation it contains 16 per cent; at 5000
feet. 15,5 per cent; at 5000 feet l49 per
cent al 10000 feet. 142 per cent; at
1900 feet 1877 per cent; at 10000 feet,
l3.2 per cent: at 10000 feet, 1877 per cent,
and at $4,000 feet. 1872 per cent
Now. In order to meet the oxygen def
cheney, the body is obliged TO compensate
IN some way, and this compensation makes
Itself manifest through greatly increased
lung ventilation. the breathing growing
deeper and fuller as the elevation in.
creases through an improvement in the
circulation In the tissues, through rails
Ing OF blood pressure. and through a run
Glng up OF the percentage OF the hemo-
oDln tcoloring matter and carrier OF
OXYGEN In the blood and Of the number
of red and white blood corpuscles.
just now these roocftopo
come about we shall now endeavor to ex.
plain.
DR.. A. ". Hewlett OF the University OF
Michigan, has found that the total blood
volume, including oil the blood clements.
increases automatically at high attitudes
SO that tho ygen.carrying capacity OF
the blood can be intensified Nature pro.
Nioes lor this automatic adjustment so
mat even though the atmosphere may con.
tain less oxygen at a given altitude. the
mechanlsms OF the body will see 10 Il that
as much oxygen as possible is delivered
10 the tissues. for upon oXygenation de.
pend our metaboiism and our worry lives.
VI course. this Increase In total blood
volume IL nutritive phenomenon. In
other words, Il must follow upon increased
assimilative powers II becomes more
marked the longer one resides at a high
attitude in short flights the increase OF
red and white blood cell: and he,noglobin
Is believed 10 be due to a loss OF fluids
with resulting concentration Of the blood
when would give only relatively high
blood count and hemorlobin percentage
put long residence al a high altitude final.
ly results in an absolute and not merely
relative increase in the blood elements
the red cells running w from the normal
100000 per cubic millimeter of hlood n
as many as 5000 900
Regarding the increased pulmonary ven
tilation. Bancroft has shown that its direct
cause is an increased amount OF acid IN
the blood. Any increase in the acidity OF
the blood promptly stimulates the res p!ra.
tory centre in the brain. The object Of the