FROZEN TO A PIPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 10

FROZEN TO A PIPE.

FIREMAN'S PAINFUL PLIGHT.

HELD BY THE TONGUE.

QUENCHING THIRST AT FROST.

An amusing but painful mishap re- ' cently befel a fireman on the steamer Canadian Transporter, - which arrived at Auckland from Vancouver yesterday. When the vessel was nearing Honolulu, the fireman, feeling the combined effects of the heat from the boilers and the tropical by chance was in the vicinity of the cooling chamber in which the ship's supply of fresh meat is stored. The sight of tho frost-covered pipes leading from the refrigerating engine to the cooling [chamber ' tempted him to try to quench his thirst by placing his tongue against one of them. To his amazement and consternation his tongue was immediately frozen fast to the pipe. His cries for help quickly brought other members of the crew to his assistance, but they were unable to release him. Ludicrous as the accident looked, the unfortunate man was in a painful predicament, as the frost on the pipes was gradually drawing his tongue out and causing it to swell in an alarming manner. Eventually the refrigerating engines had to be stopped and hot air pumped back into the. pipe* before the man's tongue could be thawed clear. It was over half an hour before he was finally released.

Seamen as a rule are sympathetic where pain is concerned, but. the sight of their companion wandering round the deck with his tongue twice its normal _ size stuck out of his mouth evoked considerable laughter among the other members of the crew. The accident was of a kind not enumerated in the vessel's medical guide book, and the captain had to send to San Franci*co by wireless for medical advice as to how to treat the injury. The instructions received were followed, and the injured member was dressed with boracic and other lotions'. The patient had to be fed on soups and liquids for a fortnight.