1879.] Various Altitudes on the Island and Peak of Teneriffe. 505 



vascularity, slower respiration, and gentler breathing are closely 

 related, and together indicate reduced lung work, the reverse for the 

 temperate zone marking an increased function,* 1 &c." 



Dr. Rattray infers, without apparently making any actual deter- 

 mination of carbonic acid in the air expired, that there is a larger 

 amount of carbon thrown out by the lungs in temperate than in 

 tropical climates. The consideration of the mechanical action of heat, 

 with reference to the functions of the body, had led me long ago to 

 adopt the same views ; and previous to my Teneriffe experiment, I 

 had believed that where the heat of the sun was in excess, less heat 

 was required to be manufactured by the body for the due performance 

 of its functions, and, consequently, less carbonic acid was formed and 

 given out. I am now compelled, however, to alter this view, and to 

 conclude that more carbonic acid is formed in the body under a 

 tropical or nearly tropical sun than under temperate latitudes. 



In order to make the subject perfectly clear, I have placed, in a tabu- 

 lar form, the figures showing the amount of carbonic acid expired, as 

 found by direct experiments both in my Alpine and southern stations. 



Table showing comparatively the Weights of Carbonic Acid and the 

 Volumes of Air (reduced) expired per minute by myself and guide 

 in the Alps and at Teneriffe. 



Self sitting. 



Stations. 



C0 2 expired. 



Increase for 

 G-rni. Teneriffe. 

 Per ct. 



Alta Vista \ 0-186 



Breithorn and St. I 



Theodule '! 0-419 



Griiajara j 0'458 



Eiffel and St. Ber- j 



nard I -414 



13 



9-6 



Seaside, Puerto 

 Lake of Greneva 



-471 "I 

 0*383 J 



18 



7 { 



Volume air expired 

 per min. (reduced 

 to 32° and seaside 

 pressure) . 



Litres. 

 5 -14 



4- 74 



5- 47 



4 63 



5 -84 \ 

 5-14J 



Increase for 

 Teneriffe. 

 Per ct. 



Alta Vista. . 

 Gruajara. . . . 

 St. Bernard 



Puerto 



St. Bernard. 



Cwpelin sitting 

 6-24 



0-5641 m | 

 -565 J [ 



0-6851 

 0-565 J 



1.7 



•8 



1(1 -1 



12 



5-8 



Number of 

 experiments. 



{ 



7-71 

 5-88 



} «* { 



20 



23 

 20 



29 

 20 

 37 



37 



4 

 18 

 4 



The figures for the weights of C0 2 expired in the Alps have undergone a correc- 

 tion. See foot-note, page 507. 



* "Proc. Roy. Soc," vol. xxi, 1872. 



