956 



Summary and Conclusions 



We begin the ascent of the Botzer Tolle, which we make at one 

 stretch, except for a halt of a few minutes half way up. As we climb 

 I see disappearing one after the other most of the symptoms of moun- 

 tain sickness from which I had been suffering. 



9:50. 4300 meters. At the Sattel Tolle, halt; temperature 38.59°; 

 pulse 80; respiratory rate 38. 



10:00. The same; pulse 70. 



10:35. Pulse, 104 to 120; fourth lunch. 



10:50. Great irregularity of pulse which is at 86; that of my 

 guides is 102 and 108, irregular. 



Descent. 



3:00. Arrived at the Riff el. 



4:00. Temperature 37.87°; pulse 93; respiratory rate 28. 



3:45 in the morning at Zermatt (1620 meters) in my bed; tem- 

 perature 37.32°. (P. 102.) 



Fig. 84 — Pulse at the Riffel (2569 m.), rest on the return trip (ascent of 

 July 7). 



Fig. 85 — Pulse at Morges (380 m.), absolute repose (July 10) 



I add here, for the sake of comparison, a sphymographic record 

 taken by M. Forel on his return to Morges (380 meters) July 10. 



M. Forel attributes the differences between the sufferings of the 

 two ascents to becoming accustomed to the mountains, to the train- 

 ing due to the three days stay at the Riffel (2500 meters) : 



Each year (he says) I suffered more in my first ascent of the 

 summer than in following expeditions. So, in 1865, I was very much 

 affected by mountain sickness on the col of the Geant at 3400 meters. 

 It was my first ascent; but six days after, trained as I was by succes- 

 sive passages of the cols of the Geant, of Joux, of Ranzola, of Ollen 

 and of Turlo, I made the passage of Weissthor, 3610 meters, without 

 suffering at all from the altitude. (P. 108.) 



We ourselves made similar reflections (see page 324). The 

 disappearance of symptoms during the ascent of the Botzer Tolle 

 is a very interesting fact; M. Forel explains it in a very original 

 manner: 



