OXYGEN GAS FOR ATHLETES 263 



these circumstances, giddiness, exhaustion, and often 

 collapse. 



The difficulty in breathing and the prostration ex- 

 perienced by many people in mountain-climbing is largely 

 due, not merely to the muscular effort of climbing, but to 

 the fact that the rarefied atmosphere at heights of 8000 ft. 

 to 15,000 ft. and more gives into the lungs in every 

 inspiration but a fraction of the oxygen which is inspired 

 at low levels, and moreover, owing to the low pressure, 

 much less is held in the blood. Even when conveyed by 

 mule, cog-rail, or balloon to these heights and, therefore, 

 without muscular exertion, sensitive people suffer severely 

 from temporary "oxygen-starvation." They as well as 

 the laborious mountaineer could be saved from all such 

 inconvenience by the use of a skilfully-constructed 

 " traveller's flask " of oxygen gas. 



The observations and experiments as to the possible 

 use of pure oxygen by athletes suggest that we might all 

 benefit by occasional if not frequent use of such an atmo- 

 sphere. Indeed, there are some individuals amongst 

 others a well-known and distinguished actor who before 

 making some special effort, or even when feeling tired 

 and unequal to their daily work, inhale under medical 

 supervision a certain quantity of oxygen gas. It would 

 certainly seem that since country air, sea air, and 

 mountain air are useful and refreshing, an artificial 

 supply of extra oxygen might be inhaled in London, 

 either in one's own house or in establishments provided 

 for the purpose, with definite benefit to health, especially 

 if the inhalation were combined with exercise. 



The experiments made by Dr. Hill have come about 

 in connection with work undertaken for the purpose of 

 improving the diving and life-saving apparatus named 

 after its inventor, Fleuss. This invention consists essenti- 

 ally in a water-tight helmet and jacket connected with a 



