Dept.] 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



II. Hygiene. 



Dr. Hayes stated that during the late cruise of the Advance to the Arctic 

 seas, his attention was directed to some facts in relation to the capabilities of 

 men to resist low temperatures, which, at the friendly suggestion of Dr. Ham- 

 mond, he had grouped together, and, with permission, would submit them to 

 the Department. 



He thought that' there was a great misapprehension existing in the popular 

 mind upon the subject of Arctic life, it being generally thought that Arctic 

 travellers were necessarily subjected to great hardships, in consequence of the 

 lowness of the atmospheric temperatures. This he could but consider a great 

 mistake. The animal economy everywhere adapts itself with greater or less 

 facility to surrounding circumstances, and this power of adaptation is no where 

 more strikingly exhibited than in the Arctic regions. The appetite and diges- 

 tive powers are doubtless more intimately concerned than any other of the 

 animal functions, and, in the quantity and quality of the food consumed we 

 are led to look for an explanation of the cause which enables the inhabitants 

 of Polar countries so successfully to resist the cold. 



The Esquimaux, with whom he had had communication in the far North, 

 were found living mainly without fire. They have no wood, and no means of 

 creating an artificial temperature, except with a small lamp, using blubber for 

 fuel and moss for wick. The flame of this lamp gives very little heat, and is 

 barely sufficient to melt from the snow the water which they require, and to 

 light their huts during the dark period of the winter. During the coldest 

 season they often live in snow-houses, the temperature of which ranges from 

 zero to the freezing point, being kept thus elevated above the temperature 

 outside, which rangesjfrom 30 to 70, idiiefly by the heat radiated from the 

 persons of the occupants; yet, with this seemingly unendurable tempera- 

 ture they appear to live in comfort. They do not hesitate to expose themselves 

 to any degree of cold, when engaged in hunting, and often sleep upon the snow, 

 with no other protection than a piece of bear skin, on which they lie. Never- 

 theless, these people are strong, robust and healthy. Scurvy is unknown 

 amongst them, and Dr. Hayes had never heard of, or seen, a case of tubercu- 

 lar disease. 



Dr. Hayes thought that we must look for an explanation of this wonderful 

 power of resistance to the character of their food. They subsist entirely 

 upon an animal diet, the flesh mainly of the walrus, seal, narwhal and 

 bear ; and the quantity which they consume seems really enormous. He had 

 frequently seen an Esquimaux hunter, when preparing for a long chase, eat 

 from six to twelve pounds, at least one-third of which was fat, and he would 

 place the daily consumption of the men at from twelve to fifteen pounds. In 

 this large consumption of animal food they find their shield against the cold, 

 and he does not believe that they could live upon a vegetable diet under such 

 exposure. The same laws govern the Esquimaux and the white men, and 

 just in proportion as the crew of the Advance accustomed themselves to the 

 diet of the natives, did they gain power to expose themselves with impunity 

 to low temperatures. They found themselves continually craving animal 

 food, and especially fatty substances. The process of acclimation went on in 

 proportion to their ability to eat and digest this kind of diet. During the early 

 part of the cruise, they suffered much from temperatures, which, at a later 

 period, produced no impression whatever upon them. 



Dr. Hayes thought it was worthy of more than a mere passing remark, that 

 scurvy and strumous diseases were unknown to the natives of the region, so 

 far, at least, as his observations extended. In relation to the last, he would 

 merely submit the fact : with regard to the former, he would say that where- 

 ever scurvy has occurred in the Arctic regions, it has been owing to accidental 

 causes, which experience has taught us to remove or avoid. The' long con- 

 tinned use of a salt meat diet had much to do with its development, and, as 



1859.] 



