Physiologic Significance of Record Aeroplane Flight

A few days ago an aeroplane carrying Major R. W. Schroeder of the American army aviation service reached an altitude of 36,020 feet, about 5,000 feet higher than the previous world ’s record for such a mode of flight. Only a few years ago this marvelous performance would have been rated as virtually impossible because of the limitations of the human organism at great heights. In the oft quoted balloon ascension of the meteorologist Glaisher, in 1862, an altitude of about 30, 000 feet was reached. When the balloonist attained a height of 26,000 feet, he first noticed that he could not read his instruments properly. Shortly after this his legs became paralyzed, and then his arms, though he could still move his head. Then his sight failed entirely, afterward his hearing, a nd he became unconscious. Glaisher’s companion, Coxwell, likewise incapacitated in the upper air, managed to open a valve which permitted the balloon to descend, and thus saved the lives of the men. Another historic instance of a record balloon ascension concerns the experience of Tissandier, the sole survivor of a party of three in the fatal trip of 1875.…

Source: JAMA - March 17, 2020 Category: General Medicine Source Type: research