CHAP. XVI. DEPRECIATED. 301 



On each of these occasions, the first mile was intentionally 

 traversed at a quicker pace than the rest. Over the remainder 

 (with the exception of the last mile at Machachi), at each place, I 

 endeavoured to walk at exactly the same rate, mile per mile, and 

 at Brompton did the next three miles in 11 min., 10.58 and 10.59 

 respectively. In the fifth and sixth miles heavy rain fell, and 

 caused a marked diminution in the rate, which was improved 

 in the last mile with better weather, and I left off feeling that 

 another seven miles could certainly have been covered in less time. 



Although endeavouring to accomplish the first mile on the 

 Quito road at the same rate as in London, it took nearly half a 

 minute longer, and the difference was larger on the second one.^ 

 The next three miles were walked at a tolerably regular pace, and 

 I quickened up on the sixth, and left off feeling that I could 

 scarcely improve the rate, and certainly could not walk another 

 six miles in 71 min. 47 seconds. '^ 



It is nearly impossible upon two such occasions to have the 

 conditions exactly alike. At Machachi there were the advantages 

 of being 10 lbs. lighter than in London and walking with tempera- 

 ture 11° Faht. cooler, and the disadvantage of being impeded by 

 traffic. In London, though the track was kept clear, there was 

 the disadvantage (during part of the time) of walking in dragging 

 clothes, soaked with rain. All things considered, the conditions 

 were pretty evenly balanced ; and, as I am unable to assign the 

 depreciation in my ordinary and habitual rate to any other cause, 



1 This was partly caused by having to pass three times through a large flock 

 of sheep. 



2 Before this walk at Machachi my temperature was 98° *5 Faht., and 98°*4 

 35 minutes after it was over. Pulse before the walk 73, and 101 half an hour after 

 it was over. [M. Paul Bert has shewn that, when sitting still, the rate of the pulse 

 can be raised by reduction of pressure. See Appendix J.J Some years later, after 

 walking six miles at a much faster rate, on a measured half-mile on a Surrey road 

 with a gradient selected to correspond with that on the Quito road, I found that my 

 pulse was only raised from 73-5 (mean of two minutes) to 96 (mean of four minutes). 



Owing to the failure of a medical gentleman to keep his appointment, my pulse 

 and temperature were not observed on Aug. 6, 1879. 



