Evening star., 1933-01-18

only one-third of the volume breathed
In at sea level Pure oxygen then must
be carried and inspired to enable the
blood to eliminate the carbon dioxide
produced in the muscles by any sort of
effort Only so can heart and lungs
sustain the labor of pumping and puri-
fying the vitiated stream. More inpor-
tant still is the fact that oxygen, by its
action on the blood wards off the dulling
Of the brain and perceptions due to an
excess of carbon dioxide.
Oxygen Is Heated Electrically.
To carry the oxygen, cylinders are
provided of new steel of immense
strength and remarkable qualities. From
these it is led by an ingenious system
OF copper and aluminium pipes, pressure
gauges, regulators, and flow-meters to
moulded masks which cover the nose
and the lower part of the airmef1's
faces The oxygen Is heated electrically
to avoid any danger Of freezing as 1t
issues from its tiny orifices.
There is an even greater danger
which threatens the arteries of him
who adventures into the highest levels.
Over the mountains the pressure OF
that air which supports the walls of
the blood vessels nearer the surface will
be only one-fourth of that at sea-level.
Deprived of their normal support, these
vessels tend to burst by internal pres
sure from the hearts violent pumping,
and such condition may cause loss OF
vision, a dangerous or fatal lapse into
unconsciousnesS, or hemorrhages. The
only safeguard lies II the physical mt
ness of the men.
Hc Htriya m l.
ton have been tested in a great sealed
chamber from which the air was
pumped out and rarefied to the degree
appropriate to an altitude of $4,000
feet. All passed this test admirably.
Surprising effects were demonstrated
in this chamber Sheets Of paper fell
straight to the floor, having too little
support from the air even to make
them fiutter in their descent. The tick
of watches and the chink of coins faded
esrily away to silence, there being too
little air to carry the sound.
win Observe Winds.
No meteorological expert can fore
tell what turmoilS and currents of air
will be encountered. Wind observations
will be telegraphed to the expeditions
headquarters from the relatively low
levels of Darjeling and Katmandu,. but
the direction and velocity may have
changed completely even by the time
the 25.000-foot mark is reached.
In the vertical plane again there are
unknown wind movements. On the
leeward side of mountains there often
swirls a vast eddy with a transverse
horizontal axis" of which one side
move downward with force and
speed which can only be guessed.
The judgment, experience, and air.
manship OF pilots and executive will
here be sharply tested. Should the
oxygen fail, or even the warming elec-
tric current which safeguards it from
freezing, the crews will become un-
conscious. This would be hazardous
enough over low-lying, fiat ground
with 10000 feet Of "air room" below
in which the pilot can regain control.
Over the terrific cliffs or the trackleSs
glaciers of the huge southern face of
Mount Everest the case is altered. The
pilot will be fortunate as well as sklllful
to win command again over his ma
chine in the small space available.
These risks are not to be run lightly
and without due cause, yet the objects
of the expedition are ambitious enough
to warrant its hazards.
WnI Map Whole Area.
It's scientific goal consists in map
ping by cameras the inaccessible gla-
ciers, valleys, and cliffs on the south
ern flank Of Mount Everest. The aim
is not so much to produce map of
any immediate practical utility as to
demonstrate to the world the relative
facility and quickness with which such
a map, can be made of a region for
hidden to ground methods both by pol
icy and physical obstacles Of the coun-
try. 1t is hoped to supplement the
vertical survey photog lphs taken along
the direct course Of the two machines
by new method of using stereoscopic
"obliques."
In addition to the actual topo-
GRAPHICAL mapping there is definite ex-
pectation of adding to geological and
Photographed knowledge, and possibly
it may be feasible to explore the gravi-
rational field and record accelerometer
observations. Besides the tangible SCI
entific objectives there is the more i'm
mediate one of bringing home to the
world the supremacy of British aircraft
and engines.
But there may be an economic as
we'll as scientific value in the at
tempt. Why should the services OF
distribution confine themselves to the
oceans and the land and neglect the
air? The air is the ocean which
comes up to every mans door.
Transport aircraft must cross either
seas or deserts or else mountain
ranceS Oceans call for more powerful