Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-02
Effects of Arctic Cold on Man.

LIEUT.. PAYER, the Austrian arctic ex-
plorer, says the London Medical Record,
mas been laying some of the results of his
explorations before the Geographical
society OF Vienna. Referring to the in
nuence OF extreme cold on the human
organism, he related that on March ID,
1914, he and his companions made a
sleoge journey over the Semiklar glacier,
III order to make observations of Francis
Joseph Land. On that day the cold marked
forty degrees (Reaumur) below zero. Not
"lthstanolngthis intense cold NJ. Payer
ana 1yrolese went out before sunrise to
make observations and sketch. The sun
rise was magnificent; the sun seemed sur
rounded, as 1t does at a 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
10 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 fiat
and thick as oil. 1t was impossible
TO smoke either cigars or tobacco in short
pipes, Tor very soon nothing but piece
OF ice remained in 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 romanticalIv.
but Imprudently, continued to wear next
the skin. NJ. Payer says that so great an
amount of cold paralyzes the will, and
that under its influence men, from the I'M
steadiness Of their gait, their stammering
talk and the slOwness of their mental OPP
erations, seem as if they were intoxicated.
Another effect of cold is a tormenting
thirst, which is due to the evaporation of
the moisture of the body. 1t is unwhoIe-
it brings on inflammation of the throat,
palate and tongue. Besides, enough can
never be taken to Quench the thirst, as a
temperature Of thirty degrees to forty de-
grees below zero makes it taste like
molten metal. Snow eaters in the North
are considered as feeble and effeminate, in
the same way as an Opium-eater in the
East. The groups Of travellers who
traversed the snOw-fields were surrounded
by thick vapors formed by the emanations
from their bodies, which became con.
densed, notwithstanding the furs in which
the travellers were enveloped. These
vapors fell to the ground with slight
noise, frozen into the form of small crys-
tails, and rendered the atmosphere thick,
impenetrable and dark. Notwithstanding
the humidity Of the air, disagreeable
sensation of dryness was felt Every sound
diffused itself to very long distance; an
ordinary conversation could be heard 100
PAGES off, while the report of guns from
the top of high mountains could scarcely
be heard.
M. Payer explains this phenomenon by
the large quantity of moisture in the arctic
atmosphere. Meat could be chopped and
mercury used in the shape of balls. Both
smell and taste become greatly enfeebled
in these latitudes, strength gives way I'M
der the paralyzing influence of the cold,
the eyes Involuntary close and become
frozen. When locomotion stops the sole
of the foot becomes insensible. 1t is some
what curious that the beard does not
freeze, but this is explained from the air
expired falling instantly transformed into
snow. The cold causes dark boards to be-
come lighter; the secretion Of the eyes and
nose always increases, while the formation
of the perspiration entirely ceases. The
only possible protection against the cold is
to be very warmly clothed, and to endeavor
as much as possible to prevent the con
densation of the atmosphere, while the
much-vaunted plan of amounting and black
ening'the body are pronounced to have no
real value.