220 Historical 



one-fourth less than in the valley. Moreover, as the weight of the 

 atmosphere decreases in proportion to the height of its strata, when 

 a man has reached the summit of a lofty mountain, all the parts of 

 his body, since they no longer receive sufficient pressure from the 

 surrounding air, must yield to the heat which expands them in seek- 

 ing its equilibrium in the surrounding bodies. The result is relaxation 

 in the fibre, softening in the solid parts, and excess of fluidity in the 

 liquids. 



So persons who travel on lofty mountains are subject to hemor- 

 rhages, vomiting, and fainting; but these symptoms rarely appear un- 

 less one ascends to 2000 fathoms above sea level. (Vol. I, p. 36.) 



Gondret 30 was no more fortunate when he tried to give "an ex- 

 planation, if not complete, at least satisfactory", of the symptoms 

 observed during mountain ascents. This is what he says: 



The decrease of the weight of the column of air and the elasticity 

 of our organs explain the turgidness of the body, the expansion of the 

 vessels and fluids, and consequently the hemorrhages. 



The lungs, accustomed to 18 or 20 regular inspirations and expira- 

 tions per minute, suddenly forced to multiplied movements in order to 

 absorb the same quantity of air, are extraordinarily hasty in their 

 labor. 



The heart immediately feels the effect of the hasty action of the 

 lungs; the result is an accelerated pulse rate and lipothymies. 



When the two effects which the heart and the lungs exert on the 

 brain are thus accelerated, we can imagine the changes that take place 

 in this organ, and consequently in its functions; it is to these changes 

 that we can attribute the vertigo, dizziness, syncope, and all the dis- 

 orders which follow. 



The differences noted in different individuals in the intensity of 

 the symptoms are the result of idiosyncrasy. (P. 40.) 



However, we must admit that he was the first to have the idea 

 of applying rarefied air to therapeutics. From the very evident 

 effect exerted upon us by changes in the barometric pressure, he 

 derives this suggestion: 



Perhaps chambers may be constructed in such a way that, by the 

 help of the pneumatic pump, we may introduce into them a more or 

 less dense air, according to the requirements of the case. (P. 45.) 



The rest of the volume is devoted exclusively to the study of 

 the effect of cupping-glasses, simple or combined with scarification. 



The English travellers who, at the beginning of this century, 

 journeyed over the lofty regions of India, introduced a new ele- 

 ment into the explanation of mountain sickness. According to their 

 stories, the natives of these countries attribute the disturbances 

 which attack strangers and the natives themselves to the effect of 



