[?]bt on Bombard Theory
p. 81 · Read in the full issue
Salt-Water
Safely Taken?
Researcher Throws [?]bt on Bombard Theory
DK in 1952, Dr. Alain Bombard, f France, set out to prove to cean voyagers that, if ship ped, they could survive on :ton and sea water. ■ 51 days, drifting in the itic on a 15 ft rubber raft, he no other nourishment —and he ved. a result of his experiment, and Libsequent book on the subject, ne to be widely accepted that, ary to all past theories, up to it of sea water could be safely £ each day, and that ship ped mariners had in the past needlessly through refraining drinking it. the subject is of considerable ;st to people who have to ey about the Pacific in small of doubtful seaworthiness, we draw their attention to an e which recently appeared in Penguin series Science News, 8, of November, 1955, entitled, Physiology of Survival at Sea. s written by an English doctor, I. Harvey, who carried out rch in the subject for British iry and Ministry of Trans authorities.
Harvey completely rejects the »ard theory—without even re ig to Bombard’s practical ex tent. This is what he says: cannot be stressed too strongly castaways should not drink sea . . . Salt can only be excreted e cost of a volume of water i is greater than the volume i water drunk. . . Mixing sea with a ration of fresh water 3 no difference to its effects... effect is to destroy the brain controlling breathing.”
Harvey says also that plankton po dietary value, and that the I of fish should also be ed unless plenty of water is ible. Protein foods in general armful in the absence of fresh being available, will be remembered that ard based some of his survival ique on the fact that fish con a high percentage of water, ard, and the Kon Tiki ad rers, too, were enthusiastic the beneficial effects of ton. the Bombard experiment, ocean voyaging yachtsmen taken to mixing a proportion t water with their fresh water ies, which are often limited by ivailable tankage in a small Dr. Harvey warns against :cept in a low proportion to
The Harvey article is certain to raise a good deal of controversy, as some American researchers seem to have reached a conclusion in agreement with Bombard.
However, Bombard is reported to be very seriously ill since his ex periment. t Qantas and BOAC are linked now by a round-the-world private tele communications circuit which pro vides instantaneous communication throughout their world-wide airline system—and therefore almost in stantaneous air booking anywhere that these airlines fly.
T An RNZAF flying-boat flight was to be made from Suva to Tarawa in August. The passenger list included Mr. Eyrebrook, FRCS, eminent surgeon from Bristol University, England, who was to discuss latest medical techniques with the CMO, Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony; and officers of the NZ Meteor ological Service, who were to talk over plans to install new equipment for the International Geophysical Year. t Norfolk Island’s we 11-liked Anglican Vicar, the Rev. K. Tutt, has been transferred to Stoke, near Nelson, NZ, in the diocese of his old mentor, Bishop Hulme-Moir.