The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-04

From the LONDON Mcuicai NcSotu, ouS Vel
Lieuterant Payer, the Austrian Arctic
explorer, has been laying some of the results
of his explorations before the Geographical
Society of Vieura. Referring to the iUtlu-
cnce OF cXtrsmc cold on the humsn organ
ism. he related that on March Il, 1874, he
and his COMPANIONS made scdge journey
over the Semklar glacier. 10 order 70 make
observations of Francis joseph Land. On
that day the cold marked 40 degrees (Rsau.
nun below z.ro. Notwithstanding this in
tense cold M. Payer and Tyrolese went
out before sunrise TO make observations
and sketch. The sunrise was mag
ni1ccnt; the sun seemed surrounded, as it
does at IA high degree 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 threats so As not TO touch the edge oil
the metal cups. which would have been as
dangerous as il they had been red.hot; but
the rum had lost all lis strength and lQuldity,
and was as fat and thick as oil. 1t was i'm
possible TO smoke either cigars or tobacco in
Short pipes, Tor very soon nothing but a
piece of ice remained lr the mouth. The
metal of the Instruments was just like red
hot iron 10 the touch, as were some lockets'
which some OF the travellers roman
t!callv, hut imprudently, continued To
wear next the skin. nj. Payer says that sc
great I'm amount of cold paral!Zes The
will, and that under its influence men
from the uusleadiness of their gait, tbcil
siammering talk, and the slowness Of thei
mental operations, seem as if they were in
1oxicated. Another effect of cold is tor
menting thirst, which is due to the evapora
ton of The moisture Of the body. 1t is I'm
Wholesome TO use snow 10 quench the thirst
as it brings on Inflammation OF the throat
palate, ana tongue. Besides, enough car
never be taken to quel Gu the thirst, rs TEN
pera,ulc of 80 degrees TO ~ degrees below
zero makes it taste like molten metal. Snow
eaters iD the North ale considered as feeble
and liltmnate, in the same way as al
opum.eater iu The East. The groups o
travellers who traver>ed the SNOW fields
were surrounded by thick yaporS formed hy
the emauations from their bodies, which be-
came condensed, notwithstanding the iurs
in which tie travellers were developed.
These vapors fell TO the ground with y
slight noise, frozen into the form Of small
cry stats, and rendered the atmosphere thick.
impeuetrabe, and dark. Notwithstanding
the humidity of the air 4 disagreeable sensa.
ton OF dr,ueSs was felt. Every sound dit
fused itself to Very long distance, an ordi-
nary conversation could oe beard ut hun
dred laces of, while the report Of guns from
the top of high mountains could scarcely be
head.
NJ. Payer explains this pbenomenon by
the large quantity OF moisture IN the Arctic
atmus phere. Meat could be chopped and
mercury used in the shape o! balls. Both
smell and taste become greatly entee bled 10
these istitudeS, strength gives way under
the naralt Zing Influence Of The cold, the ey es
Involuntary close aad become frozen.
When losomotion stops The sole OF the foot
becomes aaseDsibie. II is >omewbat curious
that the beard does not keeze, tut this is ex.
plained'from the air expired falling immedI-
ately transformed Into snow. 1Ae cold
causes dark boards to become lighter; the
secretion .ot the eyes and nose always in
crease, while the ioimltion OF the perspira-
tion altogether ceases. Tive only possible
protection against the cold Is TO be very
warmly clp,hed, and 10 eude.sg or Us mach as
possible 10 prevent the condensation 0t the
atmosphere. bile The much 8aunted plans
OF amounting and blickesing the body are
pronounce 10 nave GO real yalae.