Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-27
TIE NORTH FOR HEALTH
ARCTIC EXPLORATION AS CURE
FOR CONSUMPTION.
Polar Climate Said to Have Beneficial
Influence on Sufferers From
tuberculosis.
From London It'd Bits.

From London It'd Bits
The so-called cures for consumption
are almost as numerous as the victims
themselves and scarcely day passes with
out the hopes of thousands OF sufferers
being raised by the advertised discovery"
of some novel but absolutely reliable"
method of battling with the scourge. Each
victim of tuberculosis, as every reader
knows, is only too willing to try any rem
edy recommended, and will cheerfully put
himself to the Inconvenience and discom-
fort of sleeping in snowdrift or lying for
hours in the light of some ray" ma
chine If only he may thereby be restored
to health. But so far. the doctors tell us,
no certain cure has been found. and it is
therefore hardly to be wondered at that an
experiment soon to be tried by DR.. Fred
erick Sohon of Washington is being follow
ed with the greatest possible interest.
DR.. Sohon has accompanied Lieut.. Peary
on two expeditions In search of the north
pole, and it is due to this taste for explora-
ton and adventure that his attention was
attracted to the arctic circle possessing
a climate absolutely antagonistic to every
kind of pulmonary disease. DR.. Sohon is
now busy fitting out magnificent vessel,
which will shortly convey a number of pa
tients suffering from tuberculosis to Green
land, where they will remain for at least
feels perfectly confident they will return
permanently cured.
In the course of an interesting interview
with the celebrated scientist regarding his
proposed search for consumption cure
within the arctic circle, the doctor evinced
much enthusiasm about the expedition. He
has no doubt whatever about Its success.
This has been a pet scheme of mine for
years. he said; lin fact ever since I made
my first trip with Peary in search of the
north pole In 1897. l have been laying my
plans for O long time. but 1t was only
twelve months ago that I saw any chance
of their being realized. Now, however. we
are all ready, and by the end of this month
hope we shall be well on our way to Baf-
fin Land.
When I went to the arctic regions with
Peary in 1897" continued the doctor Il
was myself sufferer from consumption.
and scarcely expected to return to my own
country. But recovered so pidly that
was astonished, and it was in this way
that l first began to consider the curative
properties of an arctic climate. According
to my theory the germ of consumption can
only exist in a climate that is nearly az
warm as the human body. and though
made many psychological cultures in
Greenland L never found disease germ.
Rare Atmosphere.
''The atmosphere to the very northern
boundary of Greenland and far above the
arctic circle is so clear that one is unable
to judge correctly the distance of even
nearby objects. One may walk toward a
point apparently but a mile away. and
walk for an hour without seemingly get
ing nearer to 1t or even very far from the
starting point. One may try to throw at
mark apparently within easy range only
to find that the strongest throw will cover
but half the distance There is no dust or
other harmful atmosphere contamination
| There Is no dirt: the rocks are clean, and
every bit of dead lichen or moss that Is
not carried away by the melting snow in
spring is greedily held fast by the living
roots.
Just to give you an idea of the general
conditions favorable to health, I may tell
you that in the arctic circle meat never
spoils when exposed to the air and though.
II kept away from the direct sunlight, It
may become coated with mould it will not
rot. In fact nothing decays there-dead
bodies do not mortify, they simply disin-
tegrate and disappear under the influence
of the elements. l was astonished when
at Cape Sabine with Commander Peary to
see the condition of the clothing. skins
and furs In the former camp OF Lieut..
Greedy.
Then again, the arctic air induces a pro-
digious appetite, and the taste runs natur-
ally to the kind of food the sufferer from
tuberculosis needs. which we wish to give
him at home, but which he has no appetite
for and cannot assimilate. In the north
man Graves meat, and particularly fat meat
The Esquimaux are so full-blooded, from
that violent exertion always makes them
bleed from the noce. and they also bleed
from excitement or laughter.
Another remarkable thing In favor OF
consumptiVes Is the inyariabe and extra
ordinary Increase in weight of crew in the
north subsisting on salt pork corned beef,
potatoes and bread. L might also state that
on both occasions in which I have been
to Greenland I have exceeded nv usual
maximum weight, gaining the first time
thirty pounds in two months, and sthe sec
ond time nineteen pounds In six weeks.
Summer Sunshine.
I'm the arctic region in summer there Is
| period of three months of never-ceasing
sunlfght-every hour in the twenty four
mink OF the effect of continuous sun
bath of fourteen weeks. Even above the
arctic circle, during the summer months,
the temperature seldom falls to freezing In
July and August 1t never freezes. the tenn
to forty-five degrees. There is no increase
of heat during the day and no cooling Off
at night for of night there is none and the
temporal ure must remain the same
We shall penetrate into the interior of
Greenland. going about seventy-five miles
up the Omenak Fjord, a place that I have
visited before and know well. Those who
form the party will live on the boat but
there Is plenty of game and other amuse-
ments to be found for those who are able to
indulge In such exercise. The personal out
1T am recommending the travellers to take
consists merely of ordinary light winter ap-
parel.
These regions of perpetual sunshine, for
which we soon intend to set sail, can be
reached within ten days from Nova Scotia.
| or less than three weeks from New York
| and the trip can be made in safety and
comfort In suitable vessel converted and
appointed for the purpose Fogs along
Newfoundland and Labrador will be inev-
table, and bad weather luck brings It,
| but then these are the usual chances of an
ocean tip.
las a safeguard against possible severe
| storms, unusual there in summer, the yes
| sci Will never be beyond reach of a shelter
| ed harbor that can be made on a falling
barometer. The sea is usually smooth. and
| is always so when there is any drifting ice.
Altogether we start under very favorable
aspects-all my passengers are fun of en-
thusiasm and hope. and 1 feel absolutely
certain that when we return in September
each one of them will be permanently
cured"
Child Heroine Rescues Baby Brother.
Kansas City tIo.) Journal.
Nv (tor vncrfA' az