Theories and Experiments 289 



mental depression and lessens fatigue. This is true of danger as 

 well as of scientific interest; no one suffers from mountain sickness 

 on dangerous passes. 



On this ascent, M. Forel noted that his temperature was always 

 increased by walking, even above 4000 meters; he himself is sur- 

 prised at that, considering the very pronounced state of anoxemia 

 in which he must have been. But as he was not seriously af- 

 fected, he merely states the fact, and, true to his prudent method, 

 still reserves the case of ascent during an established state of 

 mountain sickness. 



These conclusions were corroborated by the researches of an 

 English physiologist who did much research on variations in tem- 

 perature of the body in health and in sickness. 



Cliff ord-Allbutt 127 made a series of ascents, one of them on Mont 

 Blanc in very bad weather, to study the effects of walking and 

 climbing on the temperature of the body. It was measured under 

 the tongue during the act of walking, the maximum thermometer 

 remaining in place for 15 or 20 minutes. 



From his observations he draws the conclusion that muscular 

 exercise tends to raise the temperature. 



I copy one of his tables, the most interesting one, since it re- 

 lates to the passage from the Grands-Mulets to Mont Blanc: 



August 18, 1870. 



1:30 in the morning. At the Grands-Mulets, before rising 97.5°F. 



3:30 in the morning. Ascent begun at 3 o'clock 97.7 



5:00 in the morning. On the Grand-Plateau. Terrible weather 98.0 



7:30 in the morning. I began to descend at 7 o'clock 98.5 



8:30 in the morning. Arriving at the Grands-Mulets 98.5 



9:15 in the morning. At the hotel in Chamounix, in bed 97.6 



I should note, however, that the day before, when he reached 

 the Grands-Mulets, his temperature suddenly dropped to 95.5°, and 

 rose to 98.5° after a 10 minute rest. August 20, at Chamounix, in 

 bed, Allbutt's temperature was 95.4°. 



Another English physiologist, C. Handfield Jones, 128 attributed 

 the sphygmographic records of M. Lortet to exhaustion from fa- 

 tigue. 



The discussions between MM. Lortet and Forel again attracted 

 the attention of physicians and physiologists to mountain sickness, 

 especially in Switzerland. And so M. Dufour, 129 in his turn, sug- 

 gests in regard to this difficult subject a very noteworthy theory, 

 which shows thorough acquaintance with the recent advances of 

 science. 



