SH13 A CENTURY OF POLAR MEDICINE

• Published in: ANZ Journal of Surgery
• Main Author: Masterton, J. P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2009
• Subjects: Antarctic; Morse; The Antarctic; Antarc*; morse
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04931_13.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1445-2197.2009.04931_13.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04931_13.x

In 1909, when the heroic period of Polar Exploration was in full swing, parties venturing to the Polar Regions particularly to the Antarctic were totally isolated. Medical knowledge and resources compared to now were basic to say the least. Over and above this communication with the outside world was virtually non‐existent but for the Morse code which was not always entirely reliable. In 1909, when Mawson journeyed to the South Magnetic Pole knowledge of vitamins, antibiotics and vascular infusion techniques, all now commonplace, were in the future. All has now changed and the sheer immensity of the changes in medical knowledge and in communication is the subject of this presentation. The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions which evolved from Mawson's pioneering efforts have been at the forefront of these changes. Expeditioners now are safe in the knowledge that help is readily at hand both at their bases and in Australia.