The Press. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1906. "THE HILLS WHENCE COMETH OUR AID."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12569, 11 August 1906, Page 8

The Press. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1906. "THE HILLS WHENCE COMETH OUR AID."

A popular rhyme of recent yeare advised those "Who seek ozone for their system's tone And a. hoaitliy tan for their pallid skin." to go to the seaside, revel in the ocean breezes, bask in the sunshine and listen to the song of the -waves. Though the sea air has ehrays been regarded os invigorating, yet wo know little eren now about the causes of its healthgiving qualities. As tho lines quoted chow it is popularly supposed to contain that enriched form of oxygen

known as ozone, and to th© precenne of this has been attributed much of its value for convalescents and invalids. Unfortunately, however, for popular science, it has never been definitely proved that ozone exists in the air at all. The test usually relied upon to indicate its presence does not distinguish it from hydrogen peroxide or ■the higher oxides of nitrogen. The one distinctive chemical test for ozone—the formation of peroxide of silver on the exposure of metallic silver to its influence—has always given negative results with air. It is therefore evident that though there is present in the atmosphere one or more powerful oxidising fluent*, it is probably not ozon«; on tho other hand hydrogen peroxide and oxides of nitrogen do certainly exist in the air; but no remedial value lias ever been attributed to them. One obvious explanation of the benefits to bo dorived from a trip to the seasido lies in tho high bacteriological purity of the air near the coast; a similar parity, however, is observed in sparsely inhabited districts, particularly in mountainous regions. But recent investigation lias shown that there are other and more direct advantages to bo obtained from a sojourn in higher altitudes. Tho exact physiological effects of a rare atmosphere upon tbe human system have often been discussed; but only witliin tho last year or two havo tbey been sub- • joctcd to decisive experimentation. This work has been done by a band of enthusiastic Continental scientists, headed by Professor Zuntz.; and the results of their investigations have been given to the world in a learned treatise ■ published at Berlin. Tlie experiments described aro divided into two sets, ■ those of medium altitudes, i.e., up to 7500 feet; and, secondly, those at high elevations, from 8000 feet up to 14,000 feet. The former were carried out on tho summit of the .Brienz Rothhorn (7713 feet), at the east end of lake Brienz, the latter on tho wellknown Monte Rosa (14,965 feet.) Some ' of tie *e«ults obtained at medium altitudes, though perhaps not altogether unexpected, are of unusual interest.. , The investigations seem to have been carried out with very great care, and every known precaution was taken to guard against error. The first object of the experimented was to diet themselves carefully so as to secure normal, healthy nitrogenous equilibrium, that is so as to aesuro that the amount of nitrogen assimilated by the body per day was equal to the amount excreted. When this object was secured half the party took tho mountain railroad to the top of tho Rothhorn, whilst tho others remained below. Each section performed the same amount of- muscular exertion, amd lived upon corresponding amounts of food. Then the two groups changed places and repeated tho test. Similar experiments wero carried out on the summit of Monte Rosa, where, of course, the conditions of life were much more severe. Tho results of the investigations may be thus shortly summarised. At high altitudes the number cf red-blood corpuscles in tho blood are increased by about fifty per cent. Possibly, therefore, altitude may be found useful in the treatment of anromia. Up to 8000 feet the efficiency of the digestive processes was considerably improved, particularly when the surroundings wero cold. Alt very high elevations the influence npon the digestive processes was! very unfavourable. At all heights tho total oxidation of the body was much increased, a difference being apparent even at such a low altitude as 1500 feet. These changes, though of considerable interest, sink into insignificance when compared with the much more (remarkable changes) shown to occur in the formation of the most important nitrogenous compounds of tlie body—the proteids or flesh-forming substances. In the normally fed adult the amount of nitrogen excreted is about equal to that assimilated, but the growing child or tho convalescent assimilates more than is excreted—that is to say in these cases there is storage of nitrogen or growth of tissues. Now it was shown by the experiments made that up to ait least 8000 feet the intake of nitrogen into the tissues was ' greater than its output. Some of it therefore must have been utilised over and i above that required for the replacement of waste material; (there ' must have been some growth of tissue ' and increase of cell formation. Even : at the height of 1500 feet this change manifested itself, though it was most apparent on tho top of the Rothhorn. ' At higher altitudes the derangement, < of digestion caused by mountain sick- « ness disguised any effects there may ■ have been of this kind. These expo- ■ riments are most significant, and if • based on sufficiently accurate data give for the first time a rational explanation of tho value of mountain air in ' tlie treatment of consumption, nervous 1 and wasting diseases. If the conclusions of Professor Zuntz and his coinvestigators are correct, our consumption hospitals should be built on the ' mountains at a height of about 7000 ft. At higher altitudes the strain put J upon the heart by tho reduction of the oxygen in the air becomes too groat, and with cardiac insufficiency ensue « mountain sickness, anaemia, indigestion < and other evils; but tho organism as a < whole seems to benefit largely from life < at moderate heights, in consequence of , the reduced pressure of the atmos- _ phere, Tho tissues producing tbe red- i blood corpuscles are stimulated, the 1 oxidation of waste and diseased matter < is carried on at an increased rate, r respiration is invigorated, and the f assimilation of proteid again goes on i in excess, as in youth. Of course, i should tho heart be seriously impaired, « thero might be danger to the circula- -

Tory system even at medium altitudes: but in oases of consumption, nervous break-down, and slow convalescence from fevera, the stimulus obtained would often be sufficient to turn th© scale again in favour of health. Some day, therefore, we in New Zealand may consider ourselves fortunate in having such a rango as the Southern Alps on which to build sanatoria for our invalids. Even now wo should at least consider the advisableness of establishing a homo for tuberculous patients and others in the most accessible position at an elevation of some 7000 ft on one of our mountains. The results obtained there could then be compared with thoso obtained at th© consumption hospitals already established, or to be established, at lower elevations. There has undoubtedly been a tendency in recent years to neglect tho benefits to be obtained from altitudinal treatment in favour of a purely open-air regimon at or near sea level. Yet most of the famous American and Swiss health resorts for consumptives are at a considerable elevation, and wo are undoubtedly neglecting ono of tho means of salvation for our invalids in not making uso of our mountains for tho erection of high level sanatoria.