186 Historical 



spite of a temperature of 39° below zero, the two brave travellers 

 experienced no physiological symptom which attracted their atten- 

 tion: "Our respiration", they merely said, "was not at all 

 affected." 13 



Two years later, ascents no less important from the scientific 

 point of view were made in England by M. Welsh: 34 



In July, 1852, the Committee of the Kew Observatory decided to 

 institute a series of balloon ascensions for the study of the meteor- 

 ological and physical phenomena which require the presence of an 

 observer in the upper strata of the atmosphere. (P. 311.) 



J. Welsh, who took Nicklin as companion, was charged with 

 the scientific part; the control of the balloon was entrusted to the 

 celebrated aeronaut Green. The first ascent took place August 17, 

 the aeronauts rose to 19,510 feet (5945 meters) ; in the second 

 (August 26) , they rose only to 19,100 feet (5820 meters) ; and in 

 the third, only to 12,640 feet (3850 meters) . But on November 10, 

 in one hour they reached 22,930 feet (6987 meters) and remained 

 more than 10 minutes above 20,000 feet; the descent took place 

 with extraordinary rapidity: 



At this height, much greater than all the others we had reached 

 previously, the effects of lowered pressure began to be felt more. M. 

 Green and I experienced very great difficulty in breathing, with 

 increased panting and fatigue after the slightest exercise. (P. 320.) 



At much lower elevations still, a celebrated English meteor- 

 ologist, M. Glaisher, noted considerable modifications in respir- 

 ation and circulation. 



The ascents of M. Glaisher constitute the finest series of aerial 

 journeys ever undertaken with a scientific purpose. Some of them 

 took him to very great heights, and one will forever remain 

 famous, that in which he nearly died from the decompression. I 

 am quoting from Voyages acriens 3B the following data which 

 have a bearing on our subject. 



The first ascent took place June 30, 1862; Glaisher and his 

 balloon engineer Coxwell reached 8000 meters: 



Between the heights of 4700 and 5900 meters, the thermometer 

 marks 6° above zero. . . . The palpitations of my heart are beginning 

 to become apparent, and my breathing is no less disturbed, my hands 

 are growing blue, and my pulse rate, becoming feverish, is 100 beats 

 per minute. 



At 6168 meters, we are in a stratum at zero degrees .... my 

 pulse is growing still quicker, and I have increasing difficulty in 

 reading the instruments; I feel a general discomfort, like seasickness, 



