BERRY 



rigors of a winter in the far north of Texas, Each October I went 

 into long white underwear only to emerge in late March or early 

 April when the air warmea to a comparatively safe 80° F to 90° F. 

 Many of these notions are firmly implanted in the minds of mil- 

 lions of people more from reiteration than by demonstration, to 

 borrow a phrase from a friend (Schneider, 1946). But as is often 

 the case, where conviction is firm, there is often more than a 

 superstitious quicksand to give it support. We can now begin by 

 examining some of the bases for this support, and, I hope, finding 

 what there is of merit, v/hat there is that is formless and amor- 

 phous, and where, if anywhere, new work is needed to give form 

 to our knowledge. 



In undertaking the responsibility of organizing this Symposium, 

 it seemed to me that attention should first be directed to an anal- 

 ysis of past experience of Armed Forces in an arctic environment. 

 During World War II and certainly in Korea, large bodies of men 

 were forced to live and fight at cruelly low temperatures. This 

 was particularly true on the Russian front (for which no direct 

 knowledge is readily accessible), but knowledge is available to an 

 adequate degree around the Chosin reservoir in Korea. Casual- 

 ties from frostbite were acknowledged, but the extent to which 

 trained and seasoned troops were made more susceptible to mi- 

 crobic disease may never be known. It is to obtain as much infor- 

 mation as possible on these points that Dr. McClaughry was asked 

 to contribute his paper. This was an unusually difficult and com- 

 plex assignment, and we are grateful to him for his willingness 

 to undertake it. 



The epidemiology of the Arctic poses problems distinct from 

 those normally encountered. This fact has been recognized by 

 qualified investigators, and hence the presence of Dr. Babbott and 

 Dr. Reinhard. These men have each spent extended periods of 

 time studying the unusual facets that make arctic epidemiology 

 so challenging. Their experiences, it must be borne in mind, deal 

 primarily with indigenous populations living under conditions po- 

 tentially unrelated to those that might arise in a military emer- 

 gency. Perhaps in the discussion it will be possible to obtain 

 estimates of what might be expected under other circumstances 

 and whether there are areas where further work is needed. It is 



