292 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



pamphlets into two pieces of " venesta wood " from a packing- 

 case. The rest of the case made the sewing frame. Two iron 

 clamps, lent me by Simpson, made the press, while I had 

 found a queer residue in the glue pot, which I used in default 

 of better. Towelling for head border, and tent cloth for the 

 back completed it. Next day I wrote Hoc Pegit in what is 

 probably the first book professionally stitched and bound in 

 boards in Antarctica. 



Atkinson gave us a clear and concise account of scurvy, 

 from which I gather that our chances of seeing any are few. 



LECTURE ON SCURVY 

 By Atkinson 



History: Scurvy was a dread disease about the end of the 18th 

 century. Anson lost 300 out of 500 men from scurvy in 1795, but 

 about that time Blaine introduced the use of lime juice, and since then 

 it is practically unknown in our navy. 



Symptoms : It is a general non-febrile disease, and not contagious. It 

 is marked by mental depression, syncope, and debility, and the morbid 

 blood arising often causes characteristic patches on gums, thighs, etc., 

 like bruises. Atkinson modestly ascribed the cure to the Naval Medical 

 Corps (loud cheers !). He said that immunity was possible, and was 

 assisted by plenty of lemons and other vegetables {sic /). 



Detection: Ralph found that if you gave too much acids to animals 

 they got scurvy, and Wright also believes it is a form of acid intoxica- 

 tion. Serum is obtained from the clotted blood of the patient. This 

 should be alkaline in reaction, and its alkalinity is tested by neutralizing 

 it with various strengths of sulphuric acid. Thus -^ or Jg normal 

 strength of acid should be neutralized by alkaline serum. If only ^ 



N 

 normal acid — is necessary to neutralize, then "you have your scurvy." 



Prevention : Fresh meat alone does not prevent scurvy, since they 

 had plenty of horse in the siege of Paris, and yet suffered heavily. 

 Possibly it is too acid. Fresh vegetables seem to contain an alkaline 

 salt which is helpful, and possibly sodium lactate is a useful drug. 

 Nansen, however, believed in change of diet as being very helpful. 



In the discussion Uncle Bill said that many of the symptoms 

 noticed after sledging were purely due to the lowering of tone. 

 If one entered upon hut life gradually by living for a day in 

 the annexe you wouldn't feel funny feelings in your toes ! 

 " I asked if a vegetarian diet would do down here ? We 



