Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ...even with an external temperature of 40 below zero. It is now too late to commence working with iron tools; and in that temperature I should hesitate to ask, much more command, any out-door work; but I do promise to remedy, if my ability permits, great part of these faults next season. My plans are already formed, and have been hinted at weeks since. Looking simply to the temperature, I feel satisfied, so long as we can ensure a moderate dry air, that icy surfaces, ready to absorb all the flying vapours, are not injurious, --are indeed safetyvalves; and my opinions are chiefly derived from actual observation, principally on the habits of the Americans, Dutch, Russians, Danes, and Esquimaux. I cannot recall to mind any well-authenticated case of weakness, injured health, or disease amongst them, and yet they all pursue the hot dry air principle, rushing even into extremes. The great evil here is the grossly unscientific mode of entering our domiciles by our chimneys, --in other words, by our hatchways; all other people civilized, and especially the uncivilized Esquimaux, enter by the lower levels. Experience has taught them that cold descends, and will not run up an inclined plane if any break or resistance is offered. The only mode of obviating this on shipboard is, unless an entering or timber-port be cut in bow or stern, by producing such a labyrinth to the main entrance on deck, that the intervening atmosphere shall be warmed before it reaches the hatchway, and not permitted to act on the decks; further, that all objects interfering with the radiation of heat from the galley fire 184 A She-bear And Her Cubs., December, be removed; and finally, that the great escape shall be induced by the column of warm ascending air above and.
