I find Cecil’s column Why do Eskimo people stay there? somewhat vague and incredible. I have been talking to a med student about this, and she’s amazed by the claims, but I’ve not been able to find any cites to back them up.
First, cecil writes,
How, and by what? Admittedly, the blood passes through other parts of the body before reaching the heart again, but that is the case with all humans, so what kind of unusual mechanism do the Eskimo possess?.
Secondly,
Again, how? My friend says: “That’s not possible. By diffusion, or active transport, or what? And why not from the areolae?” It sounds fairly incredible – is there a medical name for this process? She also asks why lowering the temperature of the extremities would affect other organs.
Also, I’m wondering why reducing the temperature in the extremities is such a good thing – isn’t the idea to keep the extremities warm, not the other way around?