NOTES FROM AN ARCTIC JOURNAL. 23 
Our allies the Eskimo dogs did us good service during the 
autumn-sledging. At one time we had thirty of them on board 
the ‘Alert,’ but disease and weeding-out the worthless ones 
reduced the pack to about one-half that number by the com- 
mencement of winter. ‘The origin of the peculiar disease to 
which these animals are subject has not yet been explained. In 
one form the disease commenced with staggering, accompanied 
by foaming at the mouth. Between the paroxysms the 
unfortunate animals wandered about in a half-conscious state, 
snapping at everything that came in their way, their countenances 
exhibiting a peculiarly distressed and anxious appearance. In 
most cases the disease was accompanied by great constipation, 
which, with some, yielded to a drastic purge of croton oil, whilst 
the later stage of collapse was alleviated, and in one or two 
instances overcome, by giving warm soup and stimulants. Another 
form of attack was very common on the sledge-journeys. When 
running, the dog would give a yelp and roll over on its back, the 
legs jerking spasmodically, and foam in many cases pouring from 
the mouth. The animal generally recovered from these attacks in 
a few minutes, and would renew its pulling with the team, but for 
the rest of the day would have a foolish, dazed expression. That 
in some cases the animals were semi-conscious during these 
attacks was shown by their anxiety to get away from the 
neighbourhood of water, of which they stand in considerable 
dread, experience having taught them that, when sledging, the 
presence of water and treacherous ice may be coupled together. 
That the disease is not true rabies is certain, for there is no 
evidence that it is transmissible by a bite; neither has a case of 
hydrophobia ever been recorded from the settlements in 
Greenland, where the disease has been rife. The recovery also 
of many of the animals attacked is still further proof, if necessary. 
It is very evident that darkness is not the producing cause of the 
disease, for our pack suffered as much, if not more, in the period 
of perpetual daylight as during the winter. The disease attacked 
dogs of the pure Eskimo breed and those showing a cross with 
rigid impartiality, and we could detect no difference in the 
symptoms occurring in either strain. Still more singular is the 
fact that during the summer of the following year, a beautiful 
black retriever bitch, brought from England by Captain Markham, 
which lived in the wardroom and enjoyed excellent health during 
