298 Historical 



are produced effects analogous to those which they undergo passively 

 under the influence of compressed air; in rarified air, the inspiratory 

 absorption becomes complete by means of active use of muscular pow- 

 ers; in compressed air, the increased inspiratory absorption is the result 

 of an increased pressure, to which the lungs, and the lungs alone, yield 

 passively. This comparison, which seems to me interesting, sufficiently 

 establishes the superiority of the first condition, in regard to the de- 

 velopment and regular exercise of the pulmonary functions. (P. 34.) 



And so increase in the number and amplitude of the respiratory 

 movements, with the purpose of compensating for the oxygen defi- 

 cit due to the decreased weight of the air, the acceleration of the 

 heart beats, and the rush of blood to the periphery of the body 

 are, in M. Jaccoud's opinion, the effects on the organism of a 

 decompression of 15 to 16 centimeters. 



Dr. Armieux, 139 of whom I still have to speak, examined care- 

 fully the soldiers under his medical care at the thermal spa of 

 Bareges (1270 meters) . 



He begins by calculating the decrease in the weight of the air 

 sustained by a man's body at the elevation of Bareges; it is 

 about 220 kilograms; "this decrease," he says, "is very perceptible; 

 one is more agile and vigorous (p. 7)". 



Finally, at Bareges, considering the density of the air, there is 

 a deficit in the quantity of oxygen admitted to the lungs of 22.56 

 grams per hour and 541.44 grams per day. 



But here is the really original part of the work of M. Armieux: 



May 4, 1867, at Toulouse, I measured the chests of 90 hospital 

 attendants, who were to be sent to Bareges. The chest circumference, 

 taken horizontally at the level of the nipples, gave me an average of 

 871 millimeters, at rest, and 905 millimeters in the greatest amplitude 

 obtained by a deep inspiration. 



These men reached Bareges May 15, they did not take the thermal 

 cure, and the subsequent observations showed only the effect of the 

 hygienic medium. 



June 27, that is, after 43 days of residence, their chests measured 

 again gave averages of 888 millimeters in circumference at rest and 

 917 millimeters in the maximum expansion; the increase of circum- 

 ference then was on the average, in the first case, 17 millimeters, in 

 the second 12 millimeters. 



September 17, after a sojourn of four months at Bareges, the same 

 subjects, given a new measurement, furnished the following average 

 results: 900 millimeters at rest and 930 millimeters in maximum ex- 

 pansion; there was a new average increase of 12 or 13 millimeters over 

 the measurements of the month of June, and a total progressive in- 

 crease, after four months, of 25 millimeters in expansion, and 32.9 

 millimeters at rest. 



It is therefore indisputable that the chests of these soldiers in- 



