954 Summary and Conclusions 



M. Forel sees, as we do, the cause of the weakness of muscular 

 contractions during mountain sickness, in the exhaustion of the 

 oxygen of the muscle, and not in the consumption of the carbon 

 compound reserves of the organism, and he expresses himself excel- 

 lently on this subject: 



We can reproduce the special fatigue of mountain sickness on the 

 plain by running rapidly up a very steep slope, a hundred stair steps; 

 for example, l'Escalier-du-Marche, at Lausanne, often served me for 

 this experiment. Getting near the top, one stops out of breath, inca- 

 pable of taking a step, a prey to violent palpitations, asphyxiated, 

 worn out, but especially incapable of taking a step, or raising the leg. 

 One is suffering from mountain sickness in all its perfection. Now in 

 this case, the work performed is not very considerable; it is far from 

 exhausting the reserve of combustible materials of the organism. But 

 this work is done very rapidly; this expenditure of strength is com- 

 pleted in a few minutes; it exhausts the reserve of oxygen, and even 

 though the air is not rarefied as it is on a high mountain, we are 

 asphyxiated. (P. 92.) 



The memoir from which we have borrowed this contains the 

 very interesting accounts of ascents made by M. Forel at the 

 Gorner-Graat (July 4, 1873; 3136 meters), and at the Sattel Tolle, 

 on Monte Rosa (July 7, 1873; 4300 meters). It is a strange thing, 

 but one which will not surprise our readers too much, that our 

 traveller suffered very definitely from mountain sickness in the 

 first ascent, and was only slightly indisposed during the second, in 

 which, however, he mounted much higher. 



Here, in fact, is what he says of his journey to the Gorner-Graat: 



5:45. In my bed at Zermatt, temperature 36.75°. 



11:45. Arrival at the hotel of the Riffel: 38.62°. 



1:45. After lunch, 37.70°. 



Excursion to the Gorner-Graat. Very slow walk to the col of the 

 Riffel (2780 meters). I am much affected by mountain sickness. Diffi- 

 culty in breathing. Flatulence. Nausea. Headache. Sleepy. Very weak 

 pulse. Respiratory rate 24, very deep. Pulse 93. 

 I make a sphygmographic record. (Fig. 82.) 



Heart impulse very weak, very slow, dicrotism. Wretched pulse. 

 Siesta for a half -hour. 



On the way to the Gorner-Graat, pulse 144. I drink some drops 

 of cherry water and the uneasiness disappears. 



4:20. Arrived at summit of the Gorner-Graat (3136 meters). 

 38.36°. 



Pulse 126, respiratory rate 30. (P. 109.) 



On the contrary, the ascent of the Sattel Tolle was hardly pain- 

 ful at all: 



