Medical aspects of the expeditions of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration (1895-1922)

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Guly, Henry Raymond
• Other Authors: Jackson, Mark, Moore, Martin
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Exeter 2015
• Subjects: Antarctic; Exploration; Heroic age; Medical history; Scurvy; beriberi; hypothermia; Frostbite; Alcohol; snow blindness; Antarc*; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/18990

To access a reference copy of the full thesis (including all publications) please visit the University's Main Library. Electronic copies of some of the articles contained within this thesis have been stored in this ORE record but due to copyright restrictions have been embargoed and are not accessible to users. Where open access is permitted this is indicted against the name of the PDF file. Where possible, we have provided the web address for articles published on-line in the list of citations. This thesis describes medical aspects of the expeditions of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration (1895-1922). It is divided into three sections. Section 1 describes the drugs and medical equipment taken to the Antarctic by these expeditions. There is an introductory discussion followed by papers on ophthalmic drugs, injections, inhalations and suppositories, oral drugs and topical preparations. Sledging medical cases are considered separately. Brandy was often used as a medicine and the medical uses of alcohol are described. Some expeditions took what were described as “medical comforts”. This term was sometimes used as a euphemism for alcoholic beverages but, in fact, encompassed a wide range of foods for invalids. Burroughs Wellcome and Co. supplied many of the expeditions with drugs and their medical chests. They used the expedition link in their advertising and the relationship between the expeditions and drug companies is described. Section 2 describes some of the medical problems encountered. The most serious problems were scurvy and a condition often called “polar anaemia”, which seems to be the same as a condition known at the time as “ship beriberi” and what is now described as “wet beriberi”. The controversy as to whether Captain Scott and his colleagues died of scurvy is also discussed. Other problems included frostbite and snow blindness. At least 11 general anaesthetics were given, including two for amputation of frostbitten toes. Psychological problems were common and there was some serious psychiatric ...