228 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [April 



and upper arm ; then, by means of a small spring instrument, 

 our power of grip with right and left hand is recorded, and 

 finally the capacity of our lungs is measured as we discharge 

 one long breath into the spirometer. 



'This performance is an entertainment in itself, and bets 

 are freely offered and taken on the results, especially by those 

 who fondly hope for a smaller waist or a stronger grip. 



' Generally on the following night the same scene is enacted 

 on the mess-deck, with the same display of chaff and good- 

 humour. One has but to cast one's eye over the records that 

 come from this quarter to realise what a splendid set of men 

 we have from the point of view of physique. Some turn the 

 scale at over 190 lbs., and several at over 180 lbs., without an 

 ounce of superfluous fat ; and though in some cases we can 

 equal the blowing powers of these individuals, we cannot 

 compete with their grips ; in fact, a specially strong instrument 

 is usually employed to prevent all chance of the ordinary one 

 being wrecked. 



* The further monthly examination of our physical condition 

 consists in an examination of our blood. Our senior surgeon 

 goes to each individual in turn with a special needle and a 

 small test-tube ; the former is plunged into the finger of the 

 victim, and as the blood oozes out, it is drawn up and trans- 

 ferred to the test-tube. The first test is to dilute a given 

 quantity with water and to compare the resultant colour with 

 a standard ; water is added until the colours are equalised in 

 shade, and the richness of the blood is of course in proportion 

 to the quantity of water added. The next test is carried out 

 by putting a drop of blood on a graduated slide under the 

 microscope and counting the numbers of red and white cor- 

 puscles which lie in one square millimetre. To obtain samples 

 of blood from forty-five people and to examine them in this 

 manner takes a considerable time, and Koettlitz is kept ex- 

 tremely busy for some days. So far we have always published 

 the results of the examination as well as the weights and 

 measurements, principally because they display no sign of any 

 change in the general condition ; there has been a falling-off 



