900 REPORT—1899. 
purgative properties. Nataloin, whose molecule does not possess the anthracene 
nucleus, is inactive for man, and has but very slight action in the dog. 
The most active were aloe-emodin and alochrysin, either when given by the 
fistula or by the mouth, while barbaloin itself, although freely soluble, appeared to 
be active only when given by the mouth, and not when given through the fistula 
direct. It apparently requires to be split up under the action of the alkaline 
intestinal juice. 
[A detailed account of the physiological experiments will appear in the 
‘Zeitschrift fiir Biologie,’ and of the pharmacological, in the ‘Archiv fiir 
experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie.’] 
8. On Respiration on Mountains. By Dr. Emit Bure. 
[From the Physiological Institute of the University of Bern.| 
At Professor Kronecker’s advice, Dr. Burgi has continued the investigations on 
the above subject, the earlier results of which were communicated to the Physio- 
logical Congress in Cambridge, 1898. In these experiments he found that, for 
equal amounts of work performed at the foot and on the top of the Brienzer Roth- 
horn, the CO, output was greater in the latter case. After seven days’ training on 
the mountain this difference disappeared. 
This year Dr. Burgi has repeated this experiment on the Gornergrat railway, 
since the experiments could here be carried out at a height (3,035 metres) at which 
‘mountain sickness’ is frequently observed. 
The CO, outputs by rest and work at the foot of the Brienzer Rothhorn (650 m.) 
were compared with the output under similar conditions on the top of the Gorner- 
grat (about 3,000 m.), 
He expired, at rest, during 12 minutes at 650m. 31 gm. CO, 
* A 3 Ax at 3,000 m. 34 gm. CO, 
After training ,, a . at 650m. 29 gm. CO, 
at 3,000 m. 30 gm, CO, 
” ” ” ” 
He then repeated the experiments previously carried out on the Brienzer 
Rothhorn, but with varying steepness, and therefore severity of work. 
The work done is shown in the following table :— 
Dr. Burgi weighed (with pack) 108 kgm. The distance traversed in each case 
was 270 metres. 
Inclination. Height traversed. Work done. 
17:29 per cent. : -  46:0005 m. - . 4968-0 kgm. 
19:0 oA - - 50°3984m. 2 . 54432 ,, 
19:3 ms , . 51°1638 m. i . /po2bcoeees 
25 * : . 655m. ; . 70740 ,, 
The CO, output per 1,000 kgm. work was found to be as follows :— 
Inclination. Output 
(gm. CO). 
17-29 per cent. (at 650m.) 608. 
19:0 3 5 5°14) The work here was accomplished by trayers- 
19°3 ‘i (at 3,000 m.) 5°78 ing 135 metres évice. 
19°3 9 6°66 
25:0 = aes 546 (after training). 
19°3 i s 5:09 P Traversing 135 metres twice. 
190 » (at 650m.) 5:01 
193 »  (at3,000m.) 5:45 es 
1729 ,, (at 650m.) 5°30 
These experiments give therefore an average excretion per 1,000 kgm. work of 
5:6 gm, CO, in the untrained, and 5:0 gm. CO, in the trained subject. 
