Response to cold of Eskimos of the eastern Canadian Arctic

¹ Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Skin, muscle, and rectal temperatures, and O₂ consumption of Eskimos and Caucasians have been compared during an acute cold exposure involving immersion of one hand and forearm in a 5 C water bath. The Eskimos consumed less O₂, maintained their rectal temperatures at a higher level, and gave up less heat from the muscles of the limbs. Though the Eskimos had significantly more adipose tissue, average skin temperatures were the same in the two groups. The pattern of temperatures noted now and the previously observed higher blood flow in the hand and forearm of Eskimos point to increased cooling of arterial blood by returning venous blood in the extremities with resultant preservation of heat in the body core.