1876 FROZEN BEARD. 281 



and it is now difficult to recognise individuals by a 

 casual glance.' 



If the beard and moustaches are worn the moisture 

 from the breath settles on them and quickly forms into 

 a fringe of icicles, which after two hours' exposure 

 have grown large enough to effectually prevent any- 

 thing being drank out of a tumbler until it has been 

 thawed off. The comforter worn round the neck also 

 freezes to the beard, and after returning on board 

 has to be thawed off before a fire. When such a 

 circumstance happens in a tent, with the temperature 

 many degrees below zero, nothing can be done except 

 to cut the beard away close to the skin. As the eye- 

 lashes if removed may not grow again, Arctic travellers 

 have to put up with the annoyance of ice forming on 

 them ; if not removed this gradually unites at the 

 corners of the eye and eventually seals up the eyelids. 

 The usual remedy is to thaw it away every now and 

 then by the application of the ungloved hand. In 

 very severe weather when the hands of the travellers 

 cannot be thus exposed, instances have occurred of 

 men being temporarily blinded in this manner, and 

 unable to see their way. 



