ON EIGHT BALLOON ASCENTS IN 1862. 491 
we heard might have proceeded from Birmingham, where guns were being 
proved on that day. It-is possible this suggestion may be correct. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
On July 17, before starting from Wolverhampton, at my request Mr. 
Coxwell took the number of his pulsations, and found 74 in one minute; my 
pulsations were 76 in one minute. At the height of 17,000 feet mine had 
increased to 100, and Mr. Coxwell’s to 84. On regaining the ground the 
number of both our pulsations was 76. 
On August 18, the number of our pulsations were both 76 before starting. 
At the height of 22,000 feet mine had increased to 100, and Mr. Coxwell’s 
to 98; and afterwards, at a higher elevation, Mr. Coxwell’s number was 110, 
and mine 107. 
On August 21, in the morning ascent no observations were taken of our 
pulsations before leaving. At the height of 1000 feet the following results 
were obtained:—Mr. Coxwell’s, 95 in a minute; Mr. Ingelow’s, 80 in a 
minute; Capt. Percival’s, 90 in a minute. At 11,000 feet :—Mr. Coxwell’s, 
90 in a minute; Mr. Ingelow’s, 100 in a minute; Capt. Percival’s, 88 in a. 
minute; mine, 88 in a minute; my son’s (a boy in his 14th year), 89 in 
a minute. At 14,000 feet the following were the results:—Mr. Coxwell’s, 
94 in a minute; mine, 98 in a minute; Mr. Ingelow’s, 112 in a minute; 
Capt. Percival’s, 78 in a minute; my son’s, 89 ina minute. The pulsations 
of Capt. Percival were so weak that he could scarcely count them, whilst 
those of Mr. Coxwell, he considered, had increased in strength. 
These results show that the effect of diminished pressure exercises a very 
different influence upon different individuals, depending probably upon tem- 
perament and organization. 
In the ascent on July 17, at the height of 19,000 feet the hands and lips 
were noted as dark bluish, but not the face. At the height of four miles the 
palpitations of the heart were audible and the breathing was affected, and 
at higher elevations considerable difficulty was experienced in respiration. 
- On August 18, the hands and face were blue at the height of 23,000 feet. 
On September 5, at the height of about 29,000 feet I became unconscious, 
and at the height of about 35,000 feet Mr. Coxwell lost the use of his hands. 
At the height of about 29,000 feet I began to recover, and resumed observing 
at the height of 25,000 feet. 
_- From these results it would seem that the effect of high elevations is dif- 
ferent upon the same individual at different times. 
On THE DrrrerEent APPEARANCE OF THE GAS IN THE Baxxoon. 
July 17. 
Before starting the gas was thick and opaque. 
At 9° 54™ a.m., at 8065 feet. Valve opened, gas opaque. 
At 10" 2™ a.m., at 11,792 feet. Balloon full, gas opaque. 
At 10" 15™ a.m., at 16,914 feet. Gas cleared in balloon from appéarance 
of smoke to transparency. 
July 30. 
Before starting the gas was thick and opaque. 
At 4" 40™ 308 p.m., at 330 feet. Gas clear and transparent. 
