From the Mountains to the Labs

Abstract

The science of mountain medicine is less than 150 years old, partly because mountaineering became popular only in the middle of the 19th century. In the last 30 years there has been an explosion of activity on very high mountains, in laboratories, and in simulated high altitude environments. Our knowledge and understanding of high altitude hypoxia has been built slowly and painfully over many centuries. First came recognition that pure air was essential to health. Then the physical properties of the atmosphere were demonstrated 300 years ago. Slowly the vital ingredient in air was identified, and even more recently the relationship between barometric pressure, oxygen, and the sicknesses that affect men at altitude was appreciated. In this paper, will be described how some of the most important advances were made, and where the explorers sometimes went astray. I will mention some of the people whose major contributions have been forgotten, to remind us that fame or fortune does not necessarily go to those who deserve it most. Remember that not until the middle of the 18th century did men climb high mountains. The intrepid prehistoric hunter (Ötzi) who was lost on a high mountain 5000 years ago and found last year was certainly an exception. Only recently have mountaineer-scientists begun to study in the laboratory what they observed on the summits. By knowing how we came to know what we believe to be true today, perhaps we may understand better how knowledge grows, not only in a steady flow but now and then by brilliant leaps. But we will also see how much remains to be learned, and how easily we can be misled or blinded to great opportunities.

Key words

History - barometric pressure - oxygen - high altitude - mountain sickness - patho-physiology