198 Scientific Intelligence. — Ethnography. 



larly inquire if the scurvy exhibits itself under its accustomed 

 form, and what are the remedies they find most efficacious 

 against it. — There are many other objects which will demand 

 inquiry. Thus it is said that from the surface of rivers and 

 of lakes, a vapour arises, which in the air forms a nearly 

 transparent cloud of particles of ice, so minute and sharp, that, 

 carried along with the wind, and drifting over the soil, it over- 

 whelms the Esquimaux and kills them with cold, somewhat as 

 the clouds of burning sand raised by the Camsin in the desert, 

 knocks the suflbcated Arab to the ground. It should be in- 

 quired if there be any thing poisonous in these icy vapours, and 

 if danoer may be averted by falling flat on the ground, and half 

 burying die face in the earth ? — 'As it has been stated that the 

 Esquimaux, in their long and keen pursuits after food, are liable 

 to violent bleeding from the nose, and that their remedies are 

 somewhat peculiar, these should be investigated. Thus it is said 

 that they are in the habit of using suction at the back of the 

 neck, and a tight ligature round the ring fingers of both hands ; 

 that they also fill the mouth with pieces of ice, and snuft* sea- 

 water up the nostrils. The efficacy of these or any other reme- 

 dies will be ascertained. — In spring-time the brightness of snow 

 is very trying to the Esquimaux ; they are very liable to an oph- 

 thalmia, almost as bad as the famous Egyptian ophthalmia, and 

 also to cataract. It will be ascertained if this prevalent ophthal- 

 mia arises simply from the strong light ; and regarding the ca- 

 taract as it has been stated that the old women among them are 

 almost always successful in couching with a needle, and extract- 

 ing with a knife, the steps of their operations, and their after 

 treatment should be ascertained. — Dr Gaymard will also pay par- 

 ticular attention to the different diseases to which the Esquimaux 

 are subject, amongst which he will not forget the pleurisy, which 

 they were wont to treat by the application of a tractor to the 

 pained spot. He will learn what efficacy this has, and inquire 

 if pleurisy is ever infect'ous here, as it evidently appears to be 

 in Iceland. — In the department of natural history, it will be ne- 

 cessary to verify all the statements made about those northern 

 bears whose weight is said to mount up even to 1600 pounds ; 

 and regarding the Greenland shark, whose muscular fibre, it has 

 been stated, contracts even three days after death, and concern- 



