132 



Chapter VIII 



tin mine at Pazna in Bolivia situated at an altitude of 15,000 feet. 

 As coal gas was not available for the purpose of operating the 

 Haldane's haemoglobinometer, he used one containing picrocarmine 

 jelly which was standardised by Haldane before and after the series of 

 observations and found not to have varied more than 1 / . The read- 

 ings have been reduced to those of the Haldane's standard instrument. 

 The following was his itinerary : 



Richards left Liverpool on Nov. 10 



,, reached Buenos Ay res Dec. 5 



,, started from Antofagasta Dec. 15 



,, reached Tatoral Dec. 17 



,, started from Tatoral Dec. 24 



reached Pazna Dec. 24 



Level in feet 

 sea 



12,500 

 12,500 

 15,000 



CI 25 

 WOVEMBER 



t9 



I 5 9 



MARCH 



13 17 



a 7 II 15 IB 23 27 31 4- 8 IS 16 20 24 38 I 5 9 13 17 21 

 DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY 



FIG. 73. 



= Mean percentage of haemoglobin at sea level. 



= Actual percentage determined. 



The chart shows the very definite rise in the haemoglobin-value 

 of the blood and that it did not reach its maximum till after two and 

 a half months' residence at the altitude of 15,000 feet. 



What then is to be made of the very conflicting results which have 

 been obtained by different observers, each of unassailable position as 

 a physiological expert, and even of the same observer (Douglas) work- 

 ing at the different places but with the same method ? 



For what it is worth, my view of the matter at the present time 

 is this. Col d'Olen (10,000 feet) and the Canadas (7000) are too low 

 to get much result, at all events in the short time that has been at 

 the disposal of the workers. In a fortnight at the Canadas the total 

 oxygen capacity of my body practically remained the same. In later 



