Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-01-05
COLD AND DRINK.
Total Abstinence In the Arctic Re-
RfOuR,

Among other results of the Arctic Expe-
dition some curious statistics have been OBJ
tanned with reference to the question OF to-
tai abstinence. The abstainers who went
out with the Expedition were sIx-ylz.;
William Malay. Adam Ayles, William
Gore. Joiner, and Self, of the Alert, and
Henry Petty, of the Discovery. There
were two or three other. seamen who joined
the temperance cause during the commits
sion, and it is only fair to state that the no
vices suffered from scurvy like the rest OF
the crew. Malay was not employed on
anv long journeys, but was repeatedly out
with supporting parties. He states that the
sledging parties of the Alert suffered great
er privations than those from the sister
ship. They had pushed beyond the limit
of animal life, and their supplies OF REIN
deer and musk-ox were soon exhausted.
They were consequently obliged 20 subslst
entirely upon ships stores, and this entorc-
ed abstinence from animal food made them
in special degree susceptible to scuryy.
On the termination of the Sledglng duties
at the end of July, the sbstainers found
that they had surpassed the remainder OF
the Alert's crew in the number OF days
sledging performed. On this occasion
Ayles had been out 110 days and Malay
SO, ''and it is remarkable fact, the latter
remarks, ''that neither of US was attacked
by scurvy, but enjoyed good health, and
were only weakened by our arduous duties
in sledging work. Adam Ayles is teeto-
taller of many years standing. He was
not only out for 10 days sledging, but on
one occasion he was out no less than "a
days from the ship at a time. On this oc-
casion scnrvy had attacked the party, and
had gained on them 50 suddenly that with
the exception of Lieutenant, AIdrlch and
Ayles, the whole of the men seven IN num-
ber) were in helpless con0itiOn. Dodge
and Mitchell still managed to struggle by
the side of the sledge, but the other four
invalids, who had held out until the last
moment, were obliged to be carried. We
have already stated that of the two who
were free from scurvy Adam Ayles was one.
The other was Lieutenant Aldrleh, VINO,
although not an abstainer, Vas next door
to one, diIntine his .sslsTi wore -taan.-aII
other member Of the expedition During
the whole OF bls siedge Journeys Ayles ate
and slept well, and bore the cold even bet
ter than those who were accustomed to take
stimuIapts. The rest of the party had a
double allowance of grog, 40 above proof,
before turning in. They also smoked a
great deal. but for his part, AyleS says he
neither drank nor smoked, and he took care
that his allowance of grog was stopped on
ioining the ship. Twice week there was
beer served out, which was considered a
treat luxury, as II occupied much room in
| the travelling, and was dealt out very spar
ingly. He was never in better health in
his life than at the present time.
4aafptailaF Of liz
standing, was the only total abstainer III
the discovery. He accompanied Captain
Stephenson in all his sledging excursions,
and as it fell to his lot to act as cook while
they were away from the ship, and ne was
thus obliged to get out into the cold 1or an
hour and half in the morning and for the
same period in the evening, he was most
exposed to the frost Of any man IN the ship.
He was sledging sixty days IN all. On one
occasion he accompanied the captain to the
Alert, distance of some ninety miles, DO
ing the journey in four days and eight
hours, and returning in three days and
half. He had been medically examined on
Tuesday by the doctor Of the ship, with the
rest of the crew, and he learnt that he had
never been treated for scurvy. he had on
ly suffered from a cut in the hand. tie be-
lieved that his immunity from disease was
entirely owing to his teetotallsm. He had
slept well throughout the campaign and
had relished his food. He had also escaped
frost-bite.
Gore, it seems, had been an abstainer un-
til he was twenty-one years old but IN an
unguarded moment while on the sledge
Journeys he succombed TO the temptation
and persuasion of his companions, and took
to grog. Previous to breaking his pledge,
Gore states that he could eat as well as any
one. In fact, after devouring his portion,
he was in the habit of looking about for
more; but no sooner had he taken to grog-
drinking than he found his appetite to fail.
and he was deprived of the refreshing sleep
which he had formerly enjoyed. He was
the only Good Templar who joined the ex-
pedition that was attacked with scurvy,
and for this he was no doubt indebted to
his unfaithfuIness. He gave stimulants,
he remarks, fair trial, and he is now con-
vinced that it was the grog which did the
mischief. 1t may be noticed that the testl-
mony of the whole ships companies-doc-
tors and officers included-is unanimous
and conclusive against the ssFFlng out OF
stimulants during the day. They eniphat-
ically state that no work can be done upon
grog, but many Of them seem to ching to
the belief that glass at night was a soYer-
eign recuperative agent, and lifted them
for the fatigues of the morning.
DR.. Colan, the senior medical officer on
board the Alert, speaks very favorably OF
total abstinence as exhibited during the ex-
pedition, and his forthcoming report will
possess much interest.-LO7ldOn Times.