CHAPTER 6 



HEALTH AND SURVIVAL 



But the human elements of endurance and courage are the most important 

 of all in Polar work." — Fiala. 



"To be happy in the No7-th, one must have va^-ied interests." — -MacMillan. 



Arctic medicine demands the application of principles and prac- 

 tices that are basically the same as those in use elsewhere through- 

 out the north temperate zones of the world. If these known facts 

 are kept in mind and used, there is every reason for the medical 

 aspect of any polar operation to be successful. Indeed, Navy per- 

 sonnel have enjoyed as good or better health during operations 

 in the high northern and southern latitudes as in other geographic 

 areas with less severe climates. 



Good health and low morbidity rate in cold weather areas are 

 dependent on good caloric intake of about 4,500 calories daily, 

 warm clothing, prevention of usual respiratory ailments, adequate 

 protection of the extremities of the body, and adoption of means 

 to reduce motion sickness. By all means, use the facilities avail- 

 able to the fullest to make living comfortable. 



THE EFFECT OF INTENSE COLD 



To best explain the effects of cold, the following self-explanatory 

 quotations from the writings of explorers are offered : 



"Still the biting cold would have been impossible to face by anyone not 



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