HUMAN RACIAL RESPONSES 



above normal (normal is 100%). The increase was noted in both the 

 plasma and in the total red blood cell volume. 



Response to extremity cooling. Pecora (1948) studied the 



"pressor response" in 23 male Eskimos of Nome and Fairbanks 



using a sphygmomanometer and compared the results with those of 



similar experiments conducted on 44 Caucasian soldier controls. 



o 

 An arm was immersed in unstirred water with a temperature of 4 C 



o 

 to 5 C. The Eskimo group had a higher basal blood pressure, but 



the increase due to the cold immersion was less than in the control 



group. In addition, the Eskimos reported less subjective pain. 



Brown et al. (1952), by venous occlusion plethysmography, 



measured hand blood flow in 22 male Southampton Island Eskimos 



and 37 Queens University medical students in room air and in water 



o o 



baths ranging between 5 C and 45 G. The hand blood flow of the 



Eskimos was nearly twice as great as that of the Caucasians in room 

 air of 20 C. Values were; Eskimos, 8.6 cc/lOO cc tissue/min; con- 

 trols, 4.7 cc/lOO cc tissue/min. The Eskimo hand flow was greater 

 at any given water bath temperature. 



Brown et al. (1953), by venous occlusion plethysmography, 

 determined forearm blood flow and measured the temperatures of 

 forearm skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and rectumsof29 male 

 Southampton Island Eskimos who were not all racially pure and 37 

 male Kingston Ontario medical students. In a 45 C water bath, the 

 blood flow was similar in both groups. Below 45 C the Eskimo 

 group had a greater blood flow. In water baths below 38 C the 

 Eskimo forearm muscle temperature was lower as a result of a 

 greater venous return and consequent cooling of arterial blood. 

 In the 5 C bath, the Eskimo forearm flow was 3.8 cc/lOO cc tis- 

 sue/ min in contrast to 1.5 cc/lOO cc tissue/ min in the medical 

 students. 



Page et al. (1953) investigated hand blood flow, subcutaneous 

 temperatures, muscle temperatures, and rectal temperatures in 

 Southampton Island Eskimos and a control group of medical students 

 during heating and cooling of the legs in water baths. During heat- 

 ing at 42.5 C forearm muscle temperature and blood flow was 



339 



