Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-01-29
FRIDAY. JAR. 20, 1897
WHERE 1T Is REALLY COLD.


when the mercury falls to 20 degrees
below zero the cold has about reached
the limit of intensity. But this is Il
mistake by good many degrees. The
testimony of Arctic explorers shows
that q temperature 20 below zero is
quite comfortable compared with the
cold weather they experienced. DIR.
Nansen corroborates the statements of
Lieut.. Peary and others who have ven
tured into the polar region as to the
effect of extreme cold upon the human
organism. He relates that on day
when the cold marked 40 degrees be-
low zero he and one of the crew went
out before sunrise to make observa-
tions The sun seemed surrounded, as
it does at high degree of cold, by
small suns and its light appeared more
dazzling from the contrast with the
intense cold. They 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 its
liquidity, and was as fiat and thick as
oil. 1t was impossible to smoke either
cigars, or tobacco in short pipes, for
soon nothing but piece of ice remain
ed in the mouth. The metal of the in
struments they carried was just like
redhot iron to the touch as were some
C1y in M,
Nanseu says that so great an amount
of cold paralyzes the will and that un-
der its influence men, from the un-
steadiness of their gait, their stammer-
ing talk and the slowness of their
mental operations, seem as if they
were intoxicated. Another effect of
the cold is the tormenting thirst, which
is due to the evaporation of the moist
ure of the body. 1t is unwholesome to
use snow to quench the thirst: it brings
an Inflammation of the throat, palate
and tongue. Besides, enough can never
be taken to quench the thirst, as a
temperature of from so to 40 degrees
below zero makes it taste like molten
metal. The explorers as they traversed
the snow-fields were surrounded by
thick vapors, formed by the emana-
tions from their bodies, which became
condensed Notwithstanding the furs
with which they were enyeloped
These vapors fell to the ground with
slight noise, frozen to the form of
small crystals and rendered the atmos-
phere thick and apparently impenetra.
BILE. Notwithstanding the humidity of
the air, disagreeabie sensation of
dryness was felt Every sound diffused !
itself to very long distance. An or
dinary conversation could be heard a
hundred PAGES off Both smell and
taste become greatly enteebled in this .
latitude. The strength gives way un-
der the paralyzed influence of the cold, .
the eyes involuntarily close and be-
come frozen. When locomotion stops
the sole of the foot becomes inscnsible. |
1t is related as somewhat curious that
the beard does not freeze. This is eX /
planned by the fact that the air eXhaled /
falls and is Immediately transformed T.
into snow. The cold causes dark /
boards to become lighter. The secre T.
tions of the eyes and nose always in
crease, while the formation of perspira-
tion altogether ceases.
1t is apparent that we in this country,
with the mercury 10 degrees below /.
zero, have obtained but vague idea .
of cold. But enough is senough,-EX.
Organization of Fidelity OIL Company. .
Thn s4nrl. hnInnra of thn L,idnlil,. Oh |