PROFESSOR DAVID INTERVIEWED.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13649, 14 February 1913, Page 6

PROFESSOR DAVID INTERVIEWED.

ARRANGEMENTS NOT AT FAULT

PROBABLE OUTBREAK OF SCURVY

Sydney, Fob. 13

Prbfcss'or" David, interviewed, said that; tlio idea, that Captain Scott had lefft his party and himself on too reduced rations was quite disproved by the direct statement in Captain Scott's diary regarding the details of the dash for. t-h-;» Polo working out to perfection. That scurvy was the prime cause of the disaster was obvious from tho following facto:—Lieutenant Evans and JDr. Atkinson, members of- tho supporting party of four, who were despatched j back to tho wintor quarters when Cap- j tain Scott was within 170 miles of the | Polo, contracted scurvy. Tho wholo j party previous to this separation had i been subsisting on exactly similar rations,'-and Captain Scott's party existed on like rations from January 3rd -until their, death. Scurvy. was still imporfbetly understood. It1 was connected either with food which was actively deleterious to the human system (as an the oase of tainted bacon, which caused scurvy in the southern; party: of Captain Scott's first expedition in 19Q2----<33), or with food that was deficient in sftme ingredients absolutely essential to keeping the body in health. That scurvy actually attacked the Polar patty s%oms clear from Captain Scott's di&ry, although the word 6curvy is not expressly used.

Professor David, in support of this supposition,, quotes the reference regarding the sickness of Seaman Evans and Captain Oates, and though it is not clear whether Dr. Wilson, Lieutenant JRawwa, and Captain Scott were affected y^Sbb. scurry, it was more than probable that they had then, or just previously, slight attacks. Even if tihey had not hafl scurvy their health undoubtedly would be weakened by the fact that in the long continuous gales and very low tempemturete they would' have ibeen Enable io-perspire. . /..„ o '. "We fownd on the Shackleton expedition," said Professor David, "that perspa&ig rery materially helped to keep wd in good health. Had the party not h&an weakened by some kind of sickness Wecy would «urely have won through in sjjite of all the low temperatures and .all. tlra blizzards."

Referring to the shortage of fuel at t&o depots, Professor David states that Bernard Day, who assisted in laying some of the depots, assui'es him that a fujl allowance of oil fuel was left in a]l tfie depots, but the allowance which is officially fixed, viz., one gallon for four men for ten hours, only barely suffices fixr cooking in warm weather. No doubt fa. the severe weather encountered by Captain Scott on th© great ice fearior in March this allowance would bo insufficient.