The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24
NO USE FoI IT.

The celebrated DR.. NanseD, OF Arctic re-
nown, has recently spoken on the subject OF
including alcoholic beverages in the equip
ment OF Attic expeditions, and, as will be
seen from his utterances, he has no use forS
such articles In his trips. The doctor says
"My experience leads me to take adecided
stand against the use of stimulants and mar
cotics of all kinds. 1t must be sound prin-
ciple at all times that one should live In as {
natural and simple u way as possible, and
especially must this be the case when the
life Is life of severe e1ertion In an extremeS
1y cold climste. The idea that one gains by
stimulating body and mind by artificial
means betrays, in my opinion, not only ig-
norance Of the simplest physiological Jaws,
but also a want or experience, or perhaps q
want of capacity to learn from experience by
observation. 1t seems indeed quite simple
and obvious that one can get nothing in this
life without paying for it in one way or "r,-
other, and that artificial stimulants, even if
they had not the directly injurious effects
which they undoubtedly have, can produce
nothing brit temporary excitement, fo{-
lowed by corresponding reaction.
"Stimulants, with the exception Of choeo3
late, which is mild in Its effect and als4
nourishing. bring practically no nutritfvA
substance into the body, and the energyS
which one obtains In anticipation. by their
use at one moment must be paid for BY q
corresponding exhaustion at the next 1t
may no doubt be advanced that there are
occasions when monentary supply OF en-
ergy Is necessary, but 10 this would answer
that cannot imagine such state OF things
to arise in the course of a protracted sledge,
expedition, when, on the contrary, as regu-
lar ard steady work rs possible is generally
the main thing to be aimed at.
"To many this will no doubt appear 80
plain and obvious that it will scarcely be
necessary for me me touch upon the subject.
But ut the same time 1t must be remembered
that even in recent years Arctic expeditions
have set out from home with large supplies
not only Of tobacco, but Of such fatal stimu-
lants as alcoholic drinks. But what is to be
said when an experienced Arctic traveller
like julius Payer writes IN his book on the
Austrian and Hungarian polar expedition OF
1924 that "a small daily allowance Of rum
is almost indispensable on sledge expedt-
b tion of any length, especially when the tenn
perature Is extremely low7' As II it were
not Just in low temperatures that spirits are
most injurious, and as II 1t were not known
that they cause reduction of bodily heat
instead Of an increase of it. as many people
are inclined to think because such things
warm them up as they say, and because
they feel warm and comfortable after a good
dinner supplemented by plenty Of strong
wines. It Is often supposed that even II
spirits are not intended for daily use they
ought to, be taken upon an expedition for
medicinal purposes. I would readily ,ac-
knowledge this If any one can show me q
single case in which such a remedy Is neces-
sary, but till this is done I shall maintain
that this pretextis not sufficient, and thl
the best course is to Danish alcoholic drink
from rhe list Of necessaries for an Arctic e1
pedition."