300 Historical 



For the sake of completeness, I copy here a passage which 

 concerns the composition of the gases of the blood, although it 

 contains unexplainable mistakes, and although I understand nei- 

 ther its purpose nor its results; but it is interesting to show by 

 a very recent example how many unknown quantities and obscuri- 

 ties these questions contain, even in the minds of the most learned 

 physicians: 



Besides the phenomena which we have just reported, there are 

 produced as a result of the decrease of atmospheric pressure an expan- 

 sion and a greater tension of the gases contained in the blood vessels. 

 The venous blood contains per liter: 



Oxygen 11 cubic centimeters 



Nitrogen 15 cubic centimeters 



Carbonic acid 55 cubic centimeters 



Total 81 cubic centimeters 



The arterial blood contains per liter: 



Oxygen 24 cubic centimeters 



Nitrogen 13 cubic centimeters 



Carbonic acid 64 cubic centimeters 



Total 101 cubic centimeters 



For M. Schoeuffele who studied the question at Bareges, these fig- 

 ures become at the pressure of 65 centimeters: 94.780 for the venous 

 blood and 119.640 for the arterial blood; the increase in volume of the 

 intra-vascular gas would therefore be on the average 11.25% at the 

 altitude of Bareges. 



M. Armieux ends his work with the following conclusions: 



The experiments which I have just reported show that persons 

 who go to Bareges experience, as effects of the altitude: 



1. A considerable increase of the thoracic capacity to compensate 

 for the oxygen deficit; 



2. An increase in weight, which shows greater metabolic activity; 



3. An increase of respiratory movements; 



4. A decrease in the pulse rate; 



5. A lack of correlation between the two relations of the respira- 

 tion and the circulation; 



6. An expansion of the gases contained physiologically in the 

 blood vessels, as a result of decreased atmospheric pressure; 



7. A greater tendency toward diaphoresis for the same reason. 



This considerable increase of the thoracic capacity, observed by 

 M. Armieux in soldiers subjected continuously to the influence of 

 low barometric pressure recalls what was said long before by 



