NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 127 



CHAPTER VII. 



Health of the Natives. — Their Diseases. — Captain N. prescribes a 

 Remedy. — Their superstitious Notions. — Mr. Osborn prescribes 

 for the Sick. — A fatal Case. — They surround Mr. O. with threat- 

 ening Gestures. — Native Remedy for Nose Bleeding and Sore 

 Eyes. — Burial Ceremony. — Marriages. — General Appearance of 

 the Natives. — Their Character. — Their Habits of Industry.— 

 Property. — Language. — Icebergs. — Their Formation. — The 

 Distance to which Icebergs float. — Their Magnitude. — Field Ice. 

 — The sudden Disappearance of Ice. — How accounted for. — 

 Icy Vapor. — Poisoning. 



THE HEALTH OF THE NATIVES. 



So far as we could learn, they had the usual 

 share of health with other communities. A good 

 proportion of them reached an advanced age in 

 life ; and some, we should judge from their ap- 

 pearance, were much older than the oldest among 

 our own countrymen. 



DISEASES. 



One of the most common diseases among the 

 natives appeared to be that of worms — originat- 

 ing, probably, from the character of their diet. 

 Their medicinal .preparations were but few and 

 simple. 



