2 



Dr. A. Rattray on the Effects of [Nov. 21, 



I. "Further Experiments on the more important Physiological 

 Changes induced in the Human Economy by change of 

 Climate." By Alexander Rattray, M.D. (Edinb.), Surgeon 

 R.N., H.M.S. c Britannia/ Communicated by G. Busk, 

 E.R.S. Received July 1, 1872. 



The following observations were made in 1871, during a passage from 

 England to the Cape of Good Hope and back, to verify and extend those 

 published in the ' Proceedings ' of this Society for 1869-70-71. 



I. The Effect of Tropical Climate on the Respiration. 

 Table I. To show : — First, that in four healthy adults the spirometric 

 measurement of the lungs gradually rose and fell four times suc- 

 cessively in migrating between tropical and temperate climates, and 

 we may therefore conclude that it invariably does so ; second, that 

 the second rise and fall are the greater, partly owing to an 

 increased range of temperature (3° F.), but chiefly to the freer 

 respiratory action of the skin*. 



No. 





Age. 



T. 



4° 



2. 



3i 



3- 



3° 



4- 



22 



/height 5 ft. 8 in. 

 \ weight 146 lbs. . 

 { height 5 ft. 9! in, 

 \ weight 166 lbs. . 

 f height 5ft. 6 in. 

 \ weight 1 54 lbs. . 

 f height 5 ft. 5f in, 

 [weight 14416s. , 



f capacity . . . 

 rise or fall 



Near England. 

 Lat. 50° N. 

 March 28. 

 Temp. 57° F. 



Chest, 

 n. 



34^ 

 37i 

 37l 

 35 



Spirom. 



cub. in. 

 252 



277 



284 



216 



Near Equator. 

 Lat. 0°. 

 May 2. 

 Temp. 80° F. 



Chest. 



in. 

 34^ 



37i 



37l 



35 



57 



Spirom. 



cub. in. 

 275 



303 

 300 

 229 



277 



20 

 rise. 



Near Cape of 

 Good Hope. 

 Lat. 33° S. 

 June 28. 

 Temp. 56° F. 



Chest. 



m. 

 34i 



37i 



37f 



35 



Spirom 



cub. in. 

 248 



273 



283 



219 



256 

 fall. 



Near Equator. 

 Lat. 0°. 

 Aug. 29. 

 Temp. 82° F. 



Chest. 



34i 

 37i 

 38* 

 35i 



Spirom, 



cub. in. 

 276 



304 

 306 



234 



280 



24 

 rise. 



Near England, 

 Lat. 51 s N. 

 Nov. 2. 

 Temp. 5b° F. 



Chest, 

 in. 

 34i 



37i 



39 

 36 



Spirom. 



cub. in. 

 246 



273 

 276 

 213 



252 



28 

 fall. 



The tropico-temperate spirometric range varied in these from 10 to 31, 

 average 23 cubic inches ; i. e. from 4| to 11, average 8*7 per cent, of the 

 spirometric measurement of the lungs. The range might have been 

 greater had the thermometric range been so ; but it doubtless has its 

 healthy physiological limits. The tropico-f rigid spirometric range is 

 probably not much higher, as the bodily temperature in cold regions is 

 usually maintained by food, fires, &c. at about the same standard as in 

 the temperate zone. This altered spirometric measurement is permanent, 

 i. e. lasts as long as the residence in the new zone. 



* This and subsequent facts appear to warrant a conclusion formerly expressed, viz. 

 that one effect of frequent change of climate is to increase, within certain bounds, the 

 yicarious capabilities of excreting organs. 



/ 



