Posted by Forrest Brownell, Ashore on August 08, 1997 at 16:33:08:
In Reply to: Re: Cold Comfort (WAS 'WH - Frostbite') posted by Ian from Patience on August 08, 1997 at 15:08:12:
Though smoking is not among my own numberless vices, I've no wish to
deny any man (or woman) the pleasure of his (or her) pipe. No less a seaman
than Sir Walter Raleigh, after all, 'tooke a pipe of tobacco a little before he
went to the scaffolde'. No doubt he found it a great comfort.
Of course, Raleigh was soon beyond any worry of frostbite. As luck would
have it, nicotine, that inescapable accompanyment of tobacco, causes constriction
of the peripheral blood vessels, thereby predisposing the smoker to frostbite
and other cold injury, as well as aggravating any existing tissue damage.
What, then, of 'a drop or two of ... finest dark rum'? Here too, holy Science
vies with custom and tradition. Alcohol dilates the peripheral vessels. 'Good!'
you say? 'I need only take a dram with my pipe and all will be well. Science is such
a comfort!'
Sadly, no. In dilating the peripheral vessels, alcohol cools the body's core, pre-
disposing the drinker to hypothermia and retarding recovery should the process
of cooling ('esposure') already be under way.
Frostbite or hypothermia -- the choice is yours.
I've no moral on offer here. Science can be a sad bore, a comfort to zealots, and
cause for real despair. For myself, I think that I'll just go the cabinet and pour
myself a wee dram, and then get back to my writing.