BALLOON SICKNESS 



219 



In climbing much energy is spent in maintaining the internal 

 as well as the external work of the body, as the heart and respira- 

 tion are both greatly enforced and accelerated. Owing to this 

 more external work can be done in a day on level ground than on 

 the mountains. On the other hand, judicious training in climbing 

 does much to strengthen the heart and respiratory mechanism. 

 The working capacity of some mountaineers who act as carriers to 

 the Alpine huts is most astonishing. 



Hueppe records a man who carried 110 kg. up 1500 m. in 

 six hours ! He calculated his work at 290,400 kgm. in 4J hours. 

 Hueppe gives the following calculations to show the economy of 

 the energy : spent in climbing by the trained and untrained man 

 respectively : 



To study the effect of altitude apart from that of fatigue, we 

 must consider those who ascend by rail as to Potosi, or by 

 balloon, or the observations of those scientists like Mosso and 

 Zuntz who have spent many days in the Alpine huts, and made 

 therein exact observations. 



BALLOON SICKNESS 



The symptoms which have been observed in high balloon 

 ascents are a gradual decrease of mental energy, vertigo, loss of 

 muscular power, and finally swooning. In the celebrated ascent of 

 Glaisher and Coxwell to 29,000 ft. (barometer 9f inches), the 

 former found he could no longer see to read his instruments, his 

 arms became helpless, and his head fell on to his shoulders. 



1 The energy required to raise 1 1. of water 1 C. = 1 Calorie, and equals the 

 work done in lifting 1 kg. 425 m. high, 



