Mountain Journeys 



113 



the elevation of 4500 meters, the veins of the hands, the forearms, 

 and the temples are distended. The face is pale with slight cyanosis, 

 and everyone, even the guides acclimated to these lofty regions feel 

 a heaviness in the head and a drowsiness which are often very 

 painful, due probably to a venous stasis in the brain or to a failure 

 of oxygenation of the blood. 



Even after two hours of complete rest at the summit and fasting, 

 the pulse always remains between 90 and 108 beats per minute. 

 (P. 23.) 



We reproduce as very interesting examples the following 

 sphygmographic tracings (Figs. 3, 4, 5) which, made by M. 

 Chauveau of Lyons at the time of his ascent in 1866, give all neces- 



Fig. 3 — Cupelain; at Chamounix (1000 m.) 



Fig. 4— Cupelain; at the Grands Mulets (3000 m.) at midnight, one half- 

 hour before starting. 



Fig. 5— Cupelain; top of Mont Blanc (4810 m.) 



sary proofs of accuracy. The guide Cupelain, who was the subject, 

 is a very vigorous young man, who seems not to suffer from moun- 

 tain sickness at all. 



For M. Lortet, who does suffer from it, the changes were still 

 more considerable. 



Temperature. We now come to the subject to which M. Lortet 

 gave most attention, and which serves as a basis for his theory of 

 mountain sickness. I continue to quote verbatim: 



The thermometer was placed under the tongue, the buccal orifice 

 being always closed hermetically, and respiration going on only 



