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is warm after South Pole stintlo so we did not have mail service,” Dr, Worley said.The doctor operatesDick-Worley,--complete with heavy beard, pulls tooth from Bill Van Stev-eninch, scientist with the Uniteds “ J .States Antarctic research program. Picture was taken by a Navy corps-man who assisted Worley,WinterBy BOB KELLYKansas’ cold late fall is like summer's warmth to Dr. Rich-ard Worley, Salina, who has just completed a one - year tour of duty at the South Pole.Worley, a Navy doctor, served as medical advisor to a 20-man team of Navy and civilian personnel cenducling scientific research at the Amundscn-Scott South Pole station.Tlie isolated facility is at the geographical center of '(he South Pole, the farthest southern point in the world.Navy workmen built the station in 1955 - 57 as part of the International Geophysical Year project. The IGY was a cooperative study by several nations.Dr. Worley was responsible for the health care of the 14 Navy personnel and the 6 civilian scientists at the post.A wide variety9His duties included everything from treating frost bile to brok-en backs but a prime area of concentration was treatment of psychological problems arising from the isolation of the group from civilization for an 8%-month period during the winter months.About the only medical* problem Dr. Worley didn’t have to-face was delivery of babies.Although women are now being stationed at some of the other Antarctic facilities during the summer, none is allowed at Amundsen - Seott.‘‘Enough problems? arise with just men,” said Worley.Frost bite was a common ailment. facing Worley, who enlisted in the Navy following graduation frcm the University of Kansas Medical School at Kansas City.The biller Antarctic temperatures — which hit a low of 108 degrees below zero during Worley's stay — often limit workToutside the camp's facilities to one hour.“We were never very far from the base,*' said Worley, who marveled at the amount of time the men had to spend dressing and undressing for their daily work routines.£aeh man worked outside for a half - hour every {lay shoveling snow into, burners to provide water for the camp.Tile temperature ranges from 10 to 30 below zero in the summer months and averages 75 below in the winter. The yearly mean temperature is a brisk56 below.If you add the chill factor of the sometimes crisp .Antarctic breeze, the “real” temperature can drop to as low as 150 degrees below.A scientist's abscessed tooth presented a new problem for Dr. Worley because his medical framing hadn't included dentistry practice.Dr, Worley checked his modi-Residents southcat books on the procedure forremoval of the tooth, and extracted it despite some anxious moments on both his part and the man who underwent the surgery.'During the 8'A-month winter period Dr. Worley and his fellow station - members Were really isolated.“We did not have visitors and it was too cnld for planes to flyThe station, however, did have radio facilities through Navy communications plus a “good” amateur set used to relay messages to families.“I talked to my wife, Sue, several times,” Dr. Worley said.Radio facilities were tile only means the inhabitants of the station had to receive reports on the first American landing on the moon, but the erew was not without good entertainment.“We had a different movie every night,” he said. “Some of them were pretty good.”The movies wore kept in storage tunnels outside the camp facilities where temperatures were the same as those in the unprotected snow fields near the camp.“Wc had to bring them In to warm them up before wc cotihlshow them.”Amundsen - Scott station — which is some SO miles from the closest other facility — was built upon 9000 feet of ice. But snow has covered it and tunnels provide the only routes for entrance and exit.If. the ice at the South Pole, which is 90 percent of the world’s ice total, would melt, it is estimated it wcnild raise the world’s ocean levels by some 200 feet.Included in Dr. Worley’s duties was treatment of a back fracture which required traction and a little American knowhow.Dr. Worley constructed the traction facilities, using aircraft cable, overhead pulleys in the fire support system, and “muscle - beach” weights from the station's exercise room.Dr. Worley flew to New Zea-Continued to Page 2Old courthouse might
Newspaper Details
Salina Journal
Salina, Kansas, US
Fri, Dec 05, 1969
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Salina P.
KS, USA 19 Apr 2022
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