(RocR^ (mountain T}7onbet£anb 



blood-pressure on the Peak is not increased; it 

 is even lowered. The heart — if a person exer- 

 cises — may beat a little faster but it does not 

 pump any more blood. The pulse is a little more 

 rapid. If a man suffering from heart trouble 

 rode up the peak on a train, remained in his 

 seat, and did not exert himself physically, his 

 heart would not beat a bit faster at the summit 

 than when he left Manitou. But if he walked 

 about on the summit there would be a change, 

 for the exercise would make the heart work 

 harder." But exercise is not injurious ; it is bene- 

 ficial. 



As I found in guiding on Long's Peak, the 

 rarefied air of the heights was often stimulating, 

 especially to the tongue. Rarefied air is likened 

 by the scientists to "laughing-gas" and fur- 

 nishes a plausible explanation of the queerness 

 which characterizes the action of many people 

 on mountain-summits. "We saw many visitors 

 at the summit," said Dr. Schneider in explain- 

 ing this phase, "who appeared to be intoxicated. 

 But there was no smell of liquor on their breath. 

 They were intoxicated with rarefied atmosphere, 



304 



