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Franklin Expedition - How did the men of the expedition die?

What the three most famous dead of the expedition died of we now know. But what about the rest of the crew?

According to Inuit lore, some men at the time saw them acting completely delusional and strange. Beattie and Keenleyside noticed increased lead contamination in the individuals studied, suggesting that all suffered from chronic lead poisoning.  The symptoms of such poisoning are not spectacular, but they are worrying, especially when they are more or less present in all members of a team: Digestive disorders (constipation, colic), fatigue, disorders of fine motor skills, as well as psychological changes (lack of drive, increased aggressiveness, weakness of decision-making, restriction of the ability to judge). In addition, the immune system is weakened, so that even banal infections can lead to threatening disease progressions, especially if the body is also weakened for other reasons (e.g. cold, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency).

The source of lead contamination is still controversial today. The corpus of the tin cans was sealed from the inside with a solder seam made of strong lead-containing solder (banned in Great Britain from 1890 onwards), which certainly released lead over time, but such cans had also been used earlier without problems. Battersby now points out that the drinking water treatment plants of the ships must also be taken into consideration as a source. Even before the Franklin expedition, the team meal was prepared in steam-heated boilers to avoid burning. Ice-filled buckets were hung in the exhaust steam to melt fresh drinking water. Franklin’s ships each had a 15 hp steam engine to remain manoeuvrable in calm or weak adverse winds, and these steam engines had to be operated with fresh water. For this reason, newly developed “patented ovens” were installed, whose exhaust steam was condensed into drinking water, which could then also be used for the steam engines. If the components of the condensing unit were connected to solder with a high lead content, the drinking water would certainly have had a high lead content, because distilled water dissolves lead, especially when it is hot. The high mortality rate of the officers would then be due not only to the increased consumption of canned meat, but also to the consumption of freshly baked bread, the dough of which had been mixed with leaded water, while the crew had to make do with (lead-free) ship’s biscuits.

Because the men were exposed to a constant supply of lead, the assumption of Beatties and Keenlysides that it was lead poisoning is only too conclusive. But is that true? To answer this question once and for all, the scientists needed the help of John Hartnell, who had already pointed with his hair to an increased lead concentration, as I had already mentioned, all three mummies had been removed not only hair but also fingers and toenails.

(John Hartnell’s Hands)

These were now examined again in 2016, it came out that the long-term lead values were completely normal and only shortly before Hartnell’s death this value rose drastically. But why? that was because he suffered badly from tuberculosis and pneumonia. This led to his body using all the means at his disposal to combat the infections, including lead, which was also released into bones and blood. So obviously no lead poisoning, you get a similar result if you take a closer look at the wreck of the HMS Terror.

(Wreck of the HMS Terror)

The ship was carefully and with plan abandoned, and not fleeing with all that the men possessed. Rather, this speaks for a clear mind and not for lead fogged confusion. Then what was it? Recent research has shown that men suffered from chronic zinc deficiency, This leads to a pronounced immune deficiency and, in combination with malnutrition, to symptoms similar to lead poisoning. The strong and persistent zinc deficiency could have been enough to decisively weaken Hartnell and the rest of the team, according to the researchers. Probably the team suffered from persistent infections because of their hardly functioning immune system and was also extremely weak. Which only fostered their death.

Cannibalism?

There have often been rumours of cannibalism among men, but so far they have only been rumours.Beattie and the archaeologist Mays revived these rumours and re-examined the bones. The result: “Our study contributes to the evidence of cannibalism in the final phase of the Franklin expedition,” said the researchers. Earlier investigations had already shown cut marks on a quarter of the 418 bones of members of the team. “This suggests that the meat was cut from the bones of the bodies and their bodies were cut,” Mays and Beattie report, and their new analyses now reveal the extent of cannibalism: The desperate men apparently cooked the gnawed-off bones of their comrades and then smashed them to get to the bone marrow. This is indicated by targeted fractures of the marrow-containing bones and abraded ends of the long leg bones, as they occur when they are cooked in a pot and rubbed against the pot wall.

“If our interpretation is correct, this is the first osteological proof of extreme cannibalism among the members of this expedition,” the researchers say. The last survivors not only ate the flesh of their deceased comrades out of desperation, they even sucked the marrow out of their bones. Whether parts of the crew fed on the meat of the freshly deceased or the meat of the slain must remain open.

Special features in the examination of bones

The latest investigation revealed a small surprise. The bones of four members had genetic differences to those of the others and are now being tested by other laboratories. The DNA clearly showed that they were European but that they were not men. Four crew members were apparently women. Whether this result will be confirmed by the other laboratories remains to be seen. Therefore, this statement is still to be considered with reservations.

In summary, according to the latest research, the crew did not suffer from chronic lead poisoning but from a chronic zinc deficiency. Furthermore, it can be stated that cannibalism had occurred among the last survivors and that apparently four unusual crew members existed, if it should be confirmed that they were actually women. But questions remain unanswered, namely what happened to John Franklin, Fitzjames and Crozier and what had killed them and where did they die? Possibly the Franklin Expedition will never reveal all its secrets, but some of the explorers are right on their trail.

( Sir John Franklin Memorial, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich )

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reblog and make a wish! this was removed from tumbrl due to “violating one or more of Tumblr’s Community Guidelines”, but since my wish came true the first time, I’m putting it back. :)

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Star Wars Regency AU General Hux with bonus Millicent

Previously on Regency AU: Finn and Poe | Kylo | Rey

#general hux #regency fashion #so beautiful

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Polished Malachite Stalactite - Copper Crescent, Congo

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Jesus, how I hope it’s real!!!

#aubreyad #aubrey maturin #patrick o'brian #please god

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Quickfire with Tribeca Shortlist

#aubrey maturin #aubreyad #soulmates

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Relevant then, relevant still, alas.

Why is the “historical realism” thing always rape?

A couple weeks ago The Mary Sue announced they weren’t going to cover “Game of Thrones” any more after yet another female character being brutally raped. The thread is still being invaded by trolls periodically, and there are more than 12,000 comments on the article, which is a site record and probably an internet record. (12K comments because a single website said “We’re not going to recap or promote this show any more.” Baffling.)

Tons of trolls have thrown out the “but THINGS WERE JUST LIKE THAT BACK THEN!” argument ad nauseum. Which is total bullshit, of course. Now with the season finale of “Outlander” (which, spoiler, also included rape) the trolls are coming back.

I just want to ask, why is it whenever producers/directors/writers want to demonstrate “gritty historic realism” it’s ALWAYS RAPE? It’s always sexual violence toward women/girls.

You know what would be gritty historic realism? Dysentery. GoT has battles and armies marching all over the place. You want to show “what things were like back then”? Why aren’t we seeing 500 guys by the side of a road puking and shitting their guts out from drinking contaminated water while the rest of the army straggles along trying to keep going? Or a village getting wiped out by cholera? Or typhus, polio or plague epidemics? 

You want to show what it was like back then for women? Show a woman dying of sepsis from an infection she caught while giving birth. Show a woman coping with ruptured ovarian cysts with nobody know what it is. Breast cancer that the audience will recognize immediately but the characters think is some mark of the devil or some shit.

But no, it’s always rape. And we all know why that is. Because these douchecanoes that do this, though they’ll deny it, think rape is sexy. Because they can’t make a modern set story where women get raped in every god damned episode without being called monsters. So they use “but but historical realism!” to cover their sexism (see “Mad Men”) and misogyny. Then they tell us “That’s just how it was back then!” with the clear implication “Shut the fuck up bitch, because that could be you  and you should be thanking me that it’s not.”

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Pullings and Mowett are confused

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I think I’ve focused on Pullings too much...it’s the first time I’ve noticed Mr Mowett carefully aiming in the background. And I’ve watched that movie a thousand times at least.

#tom pullings #master and commander #william mowett

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Novelist error messages.

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You know what’s fun to write? Healthy relationships. 

I don’t mean in the sense that healthy relationships are important to portray in fiction–no, I mean, they’re actually enjoyable to scribble down. Think of these examples:

A and B kicking ass together 👍

A and B believing in and listening to each other 👍

A and B communicating their problems (doubles as good scene-setting to further explore the characters’ reactions to stress) 👍

Makeout sessions 👍

Quick kisses that makes one/both smile 👍

One swearing to protect the other and then doing it 👍

A and B both contributing to the other’s character development in sweet and positive ways 👍

One recognizing the other’s faults but not letting the knowledge overshadow why they love their partner 👍

One doing something nice for the other, even if it’s in the middle of a battle for the fate of the world 👍

A and B overcoming all the torture you throw at them but never losing their friendship and sense of peace when they’re together 👍

and more

There’s something to writing unhealthy relationships, in the sense of drama and conflict, but there’s no reason a healthy one can’t have drama and conflict while the characters still work to make their partner happy. There’s also something to not throwing unneeded drama and conflict at them, allowing them to interact with themselves and the story in positive ways. Honestly, it’s refreshing and puts a smile on your face (or, at least it puts one on mine). It shows everyone else what the characters prioritize: a healthy dynamic with the person they care about most. It doesn’t have to be boring.

(Also applies to non-monogamous and platonic relationships.)

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well, time to do two videos on one day I guess. Something about the crew layout of a Royal Navy Frigate during Nelson’s and Napoleon’s time, enjoy!

#age of sail #royal navy #napoleonic wars

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I love how the royal navy in all these stories has a hidden costume closet in case of emergencies 

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Ranks in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Era:

Lieutenant

The officer immediately subordinate to the captain. Lieutenants were numbered by their seniority within the ship (First lieutenant, second lieutenant, etc.). Lieutenants were given full commissions upon passing their examination.

#age of sail #tom pullings #lt pullings #james d'arcy

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Words to replace said, except this actually helps

I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.

IN RESPONSE TO Acknowledged Answered Protested

INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK Added Implored Inquired Insisted Proposed Queried Questioned Recommended Testified

GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY Admitted Apologized Conceded Confessed Professed

FOR SOMEONE ELSE Advised Criticized Suggested

JUST CHECKING Affirmed Agreed Alleged Confirmed

LOUD Announced Chanted Crowed

LEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL Appealed Disclosed Moaned

ANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT Argued Barked Challenged Cursed Fumed Growled Hissed Roared Swore

SMARTASS Articulated Asserted Assured Avowed Claimed Commanded Cross-examined Demanded Digressed Directed Foretold Instructed Interrupted Predicted Proclaimed Quoted Theorized

ASSHOLE Bellowed Boasted Bragged

NERVOUS TRAINWRECK Babbled Bawled Mumbled Sputtered Stammered Stuttered

SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER Bargained Divulged Disclosed Exhorted

FIRST OFF Began

LASTLY Concluded Concurred

WEAK PUSY Begged Blurted Complained Cried Faltered Fretted

HAPPY/LOL Cajoled Exclaimed Gushed Jested Joked Laughed

WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED Extolled Jabbered Raved

BRUH, CHILL Cautioned Warned

ACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG Chided Contended Corrected Countered Debated Elaborated Objected Ranted Retorted

CHILL SAVAGE Commented Continued Observed Surmised

LISTEN BUDDY Enunciated Explained Elaborated Hinted Implied Lectured Reiterated Recited Reminded Stressed

BRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME Confided Offered Urged

FINE Consented Decided

TOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS Croaked Lamented Pledged Sobbed Sympathized Wailed Whimpered

JUST SAYING Declared Decreed Mentioned Noted Pointed out Postulated Speculated Stated Told Vouched

WASN’T ME Denied Lied

EVIL SMARTASS Dictated Equivocated Ordered Reprimanded Threatened

BORED Droned Sighed

SHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME Echoed Mumbled Murmured Muttered Uttered Whispered

DRAMA QUEEN Exaggerated Panted Pleaded Prayed Preached

OH SHIT Gasped Marveled Screamed Screeched Shouted Shrieked Yelped Yelled

ANNOYED Grumbled Grunted Jeered Quipped Scolded Snapped Snarled Sneered

ANNOYING Nagged

I DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER Guessed Ventured

I’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM Hooted Howled Yowled

I WONDER Pondered Voiced Wondered

OH, YEAH, WHOOPS Recalled Recited Remembered

SURPRISE BITCH Revealed

IT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD Scoffed Snickered Snorted

BITCHY Tattled Taunted Teased

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