TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 181 
The weather, for two or three days past, has 
been much finer than we have had it since the 
commencement of the winter, and the thermometer 
was for some hours yesterday, and the day before, 
above zero: at two o’clock yesterday afternoon, 
when placed in the sun under the stern of the 
ship, it rose to 35. 
Tuesday, 14th. —One of the men who was frost- 
bitten when the house was burnt a fortnight ago, 
had parts of three fingers of the left, and two of 
the right hand amputated to-day, in consequence 
of what he then experienced, having destroyed 
life in the joints that were removed. Whatever 
the process is that destroys vitality by means of 
cold, its effects on the parts that are destroyed are 
very different from what is produced by sphacelus, 
or mortification of any other kind, that I remem- 
ber to have ever seen; for neither the size, nor the 
texture of the parts in question, were in the least 
altered, except that the skin and nails came off a 
few days ago. 
The destruction or rather the detachment of the 
skin, has almost invariably taken place in every 
case of frost-bite that has occurred since the be- 
ginning of the winter. Respecting the mode of treat- 
ing the casually, although our practice has been very 
considerable, I am not aware that we can throw 
any additional light on the subject. Friction, with 
snow at first, and afterwards immersion in cold 
water, until sensation is restored, appear to be the 
best means to begin with; and when cold 
applications did not subdue in a short time 
the inflammation that occurred, I always obs 
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