The Cecil Whig., 1875-11-13

|
Said she: "John Stiles, it's one O'Clock,
| You'll die of indigestion;
nj sick OF all this popping corn
Why don't you pop the question ?''
Remarkable Effects Of Arctic Cold on Man
Lieutenant Payer, the Austrian arctic
explorer, has been laying some of the re
suits of his explorations before the Geo
graphical Society of Vienna. Referring tc
the influence of extreme cold on the human
organism, he related that on March 18th,
1874, he and his companions made sledge
journey over the Semiklar glacier, in order
to make observations of Francis Joseph
Land. On that day the cold marked 5Sc
Fab. below zero. Notwithstanding this
intense cold, NJ. Payer and Tyrolese went
out before sunrise to make observations
and sketch.
The sunrise was magnificent; the sun ap-
pearcd surrounded, as it does at high de-
gree of cold, by small suns, and its light
appeared more dazzling from the contrast
with the extreme cold.
The travellers were obliged to pour rum
down their throats so as not to touch the
edge of the metal cups, which would have
been as dangerous as if they had been red
hot; but the rum had lost all its strength
and liquidity, and was as flat and thick as
oil.
1t was impossible to smoke either cigars
or tobacco in short pipes, for very soon
nothing but piece of ice remained in the
mouth.
The metal of the instruments was lust
like red hot iron to the touch, as were some
lockets, which some of the travellers, ro-
mantically, but imprudently, continued to
wear next to the skin.
Nj. Payer says that SO great an amount
of cold paralyzes the will, and that, under
its influence, men, from the unsteadiness
of their gait, their stammering talk, and
the slowness of their mental operations,
seem as if they were Intoxicated.
Another effect Of cold is tormenting
thirst, which is due to the evaporation of
the moisture of the body.
1t is unwholesome to use snow to auepch
the thirst; it brings on inflammation of the
throat, palate aud tongue. Besides, enough
can never be taken to quench the thirst, as
a temperature of 354o to $50 below zero
Fab. makes it taste like molten metal.
Snow eaters in the North are considered as
feeble and effemihate, in the same way as
is an opium eater in the East.
The group of travellers who traversed the
snow fields were surrounded by thick vapors
formed by the emanations from their
bodies, which became condensed, notwith-
the furs in which the travellers
were enveloped. These vapors fell to the
ground, with slight noise, frozen into the
form of small crystals, and rendered the
thick, impenetrable and dark.
Notwithstanding the humidity of the air
a disagreeable sensation of dryness was felt.
Every sound diffused itself to very long
distance, an ordinary conversation could
be heard at a hundred PAGES off, while the
report of guns from the tops of high noun
tains could scarcely be heard. NJ. Payer
explains this phenomenon by the large
quantity of moisture in the arctic atmos-
phere.
Meat could be chopped, and mercury
Used in the shape of balls.
Both smell and taste become greatly en-
leebled in these latitudes; strength gives
way under the paralyzing influence of the
cold; the eyes involuntarily close and be
come frozen. When locomotion stops the
sole Of the foot becomes nsensible.
1t is somewhat curious that the beard
ioes freeze; but this is explained from the
air expired, falling, being Immediately
transformed into snow. The cold causes
lark boards to become lighter; the secre
ton of the eyes and nose always increases,
while the formation of the perspiration
altogether ceases.
The only possible protection against the
cold is to be very warmly clothed, and to
endeavor as much as possible to prevent
'he condensation of the atmosphere, while
she much vaunted plans of amounting and
the body are pronounced to
nave no real value.
DoN'T.-Don't insult poor man. His