APPENDIX II 

 Analysis of the recent work of Dr. Mermod 



Just as I was about to authorize the printing of the last page, 

 I received from Dr. Mermod, of whom I have spoken before, a 

 work which is too interesting to be passed over in silence. 



M. Mermod has compared the respiratory and circulatory 

 phenomena observed in himself during sojourns of several months 

 at Sainte-Croix (1100 m.), Lausanne (614 m.), Erlangen (343 m.), 

 and Strassburg (142 m.). 



After reviewing his former observations on the acceleration of 

 the pulse, he noted (in this point contradicting what was said by 

 preceding authors, see pages 297 and 960) that the frequency of 

 the respiratory movements remained the same at Sainte-Croix and 

 at Strassburg, the obvious conclusion from which is that the ratio 

 between the number of respirations and that of the heart beats de- 

 creased as the result of residence at a higher altitude. The body 

 temperature remained unchanged. 



But the most important part of M. Mermod's work is that in 

 which he compares the exhalation of carbonic acid in the two ex- 

 tremes of altitude. 



The averages of the results which he obtained can be sum- 

 marized in the following table: 



Strassburg Sainte-Croix 



(Alt. 142m.; temp. 12.65° (Alt. 1100 m.; temp, 



pressure 745 mm.) 12.68°; pres. 669 mm.) 



Number of respirations per minute 11.15 11.24 



Volume of gas expired per minute 5.85 liters 6.27 liters 



This volume reduced to 0° and 760 mm. 5.48 liters 5.27 liters 



Volume of each expiration 524 cc. 557 cc. 



This volume reduced to 0° and 760 mm. 491 cc. 469 cc. 



Weight of CO, expired per minute 0.375 gm. 0.402 gm. 



Percentage of CO, in expired air 5.507 6.098 



1041 



