258 



Chapter XVII 



advantage as compared with methods of hydrogen ion determination 

 by means of a gas chain battery, that the apparatus is very easily 

 carried and set up. I imagine direct determinations of hydrogen ion 

 concentrations at the Alta Vista hut would be attended with con- 

 siderable difficult}'. 



At present I will only deal with one of the party, namely, myself, 

 as I was in most respects a typical case. The changes which took 

 place in my blood may be traced in the various stages of the journey. 



80 



60 



50 



40 



30 



20 



10 



01 



i 



02 



-i 



03 



i 



04 



05 



06 



07 



08 



FIG. 126. The curve shows the percentage saturation of Barcroft's normal blood, with 

 oxygen, when exposed to 17 mm. oxygen pressure with various quantities of lactic 

 acid added as determined at Pisa. Ordinate = / saturation. Abscissa = / of lactic 

 acid added. The dots correspond to blood taken under the circumstances indicated : 

 the percentage saturations at 17 mm. were determined by analysis, the points were 

 then referred to the curve and thus the degree of acidosis was found. 



We walked from Alagna to Col d'Olen, an ascent of 5500 feet (1700 m.), 

 in about four hours ; immediately on arrival some of my blood was drawn 

 and a determination made; the determination showed that, leaving 

 out of account the carbonic acid, the acidosis in the blood amounted 

 to the equivalent of '042 / of lactic acid ; this however was not a 

 permanent co'ndition, it was a mixed effect due to exercise and 

 altitude together ; at rest at Col d'Olen the acidosis amounted to the 



