PHYSIOLOGY OF FREEZING. 685 



The first stage of such an inflammation makes the joints appear 

 bluish-red, violet, and swollen. Frozen joints are at the beginning 

 cold and difficult to move ; they cause a stinging pain, particularly in 

 the evening during damp, cold weather. During spring and summer 

 the trouble often disappears entirely, but sometimes it appears even in 

 midsummer. During the first winter the pains are more severe than 

 in the following years. 



A second and more advanced stage of localized freezing takes 

 place where the cold was more intense, or where the organs were sub- 

 jected to a more sudden warming. All symptoms are then more se- 

 vere ; the skin of the fingers cracks, and painful cuts, blisters, and sores 

 result. 



As the third stage of freezing, those instances are denoted where 

 the frozen joints become immediately mortified, or where they are at 

 first greatly inflamed and then become mortified. The mortification, 

 however, rarely penetrates deeply ; it is mostly restricted to the outer 

 skin, which turns gray, black, and dry. Beneath this superficial mor- 

 tification there is generally found an ulcer that can be cured. 



When a frozen joint grows warm, and the congealed blood again 

 becomes liquid, the blood can enter for a time into the open vessels ; 

 then the question arises if the blood-vessels and the tissues can per- 

 form the necessary transformation, or whether, as we have already 

 suggested, the blood which had been frozen will act as a poison, in- 

 duce the normal blood to congeal, and interrupt its circulation. This 

 will then give rise to an insufficient supply, and will even induce dan- 

 gerous poisoning. This is no doubt the main reason why the sud- 

 den warming of frozen individuals or frozen joints proves to be so 

 dangerous. 



The best advice, and the counsel to be given, above all, is, guard 

 against freezing ! In looking over what has been said so far, the best 

 safeguard against this danger proves to be a strong, healthy, well- 

 nourished body and a sound heart. Furthermore, for very cold 

 weather, warm, common-sense clothing, which does not fit closely, and 

 hence does not impede the circulation of the blood, is to be recom- 

 mended. 



Dresses of woolen goods are naturally warmer than those of linen 

 or silk, the latter being better conductors of heat. During intensely 

 cold weather, particularly when a dry wind is blowing, woolen gloves 

 will not be amiss. 



A certain robustness of health should be acquired by every one, 

 and effeminacy of any kind should be avoided. Healthy children 

 should go out in any kind of weather, and they should be rendered 

 more hardy by cold washings daily. On wet days, if garments and 

 shoes become damp, they should be replaced by dry ones immediately 

 on returning home. 



But if one has actually met with the misfortune of having a joint 



