Friday, October 14th, 2005
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Beati hispani, quibus vivere bibere est
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Last Online: 14 Minutes Ago 16:49
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ceann Loch Raineach
Posts: 4,106
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Re: Vascodilation and vascoconstriction
Although you might think it a good thing to shunt blood to your extremities in order to prevent frostbite, the ultimate effect though is that it will result in a far more rapid drop in your core body temperature as warm blood is being cooled at the surface, near the skin. This is exactly the same mechanism that your body employs when you are over-heating in order to cool you down. Therefore, when it's cold your body keeps blood away from your extremities in order to minimise loss of body heat.
As far as the body is concerned, frostbite is preferable to hypothermia.
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The Irish are one of the most ancient nations that I know of at this end of the world, and are from as mighty a race as the world ever brought forth.
For it is certain that Ireland hath had the use of letters very anciently and long before England; that they had letters anciently is nothing doubtful, for the Saxons of England are said to have their letters and learning, and learned men, from the Irish.
- Edmund Spenser (writer, and British Government Official in Ireland, AD 1596).
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