Quicksand

Do you feel like you're drowning in Quicksand? If you ever were stuck in Quicksand - the real thing - would you know what to do? Sherlock Holmes was once stuck in Quicksand and he made it out alive. So is this article about Quicksand or about Sherlock Holmes? You'll just have to read it and find out! There are no books on Quicksand (so read our article!), but there are many starring Sherlock Holmes.  Amazon.com is a great place to buy books and many other things.  Have a look at the books below.  If you don't see one that interests you, just click on the Amazon logo and search for more.

Emerging From Quicksand by Angelica Candelaria    9/2/07 The above title is not a metaphorical phrase describing an escape from some manner of emotional turmoil. That may of course prove to be of greater relevance to most of our lives, as many among us are not in the Amazonian jungle. Even so, who can predict future events and locations, however improbable? If you indeed fell into quicksand, would you not say to yourself, "I wish I had read a guide on how to emerge from quicksand?" Indeed, you would! Admittedly, such a guide may have a target audience of one, yet I nevertheless take upon myself this odd but worthy task. There are several, common misconceptions regarding this seemingly fatal mixture of soil and water, most especially in film depictions. In a recent movie adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, "The Hound Of The Baskervilles," we find the brilliant Sherlock Holmes falling into quicksand as he crosses a vast, ominous moor. His initial--and entirely comprehensible--instinct is to move in order to free himself. As he begins to sink, he examines his surroundings for something to hold onto (the proverbial tree branch, perhaps?) Suddenly, as the desperation mounts and the drama reaches a fevered pitch, his friend and colleague, Dr. John Watson, emerges from somewhere in the thick darkness to rescue him. Removing his well-tailored coat, he tosses one end of it toward Holmes and grasps the other end, pulling him out of the deadly depths. (Well tailored indeed, as the coat does not suffer so much as a minor tear in the ordeal!) In reality, Dr. Watson need not have sullied his coat and the probability of Holmes sinking chest-deep into the dense matter is remote. According to Nicholas Bakalar of NationalGeographic.com, a person cannot descend into quicksand beyond his or her waist. Not only this, it seldom reaches down beyond a few feet. Watson's heroic but misguided attempt to rescue Holmes would have likely resulted in tragedy: Had Watson tugged on the coat with sufficient force, Holmes would have been pulled in two. Whatever the depth, it is unwise to follow your natural instinct to violently thrash about, as this results in sinking at a more accelerated pace. The density of quicksand is greater than that of water, thus causing you to float more easily upon the former--so long as you remain calm. While Holmes's fictional predicament was no doubt precarious, his objective would have been better executed by reducing viscosity through relaxed, slow movements. According to geologist Denise Dumouchelle of the United States Geological Survey, "When someone steps into quicksand, their weight causes them to sink, just as they would if they stepped into a pond. If they struggle, they'll tend to sink. But, if they relax and try to lay on their back, they can usually float and paddle to safety." Depending upon the thickness of the quicksand, you may have to try different methods to extricate yourself. It is advised that you move your legs in a circular motion if the matter is not especially thick. Otherwise, you should be able to gradually pull your legs out as you float upon your back. If you discover yourself growing weary from your concerted efforts, take time to rest. You will be unable to do much if you are exhausted. This is wonderful news for those who enjoy trekking through jungles! In actuality, quicksand can form anywhere under the proper conditions. Beaches, marshes, and riverbanks can be especially vulnerable to quicksand formations. Although it is often portrayed as a human-sucking vacuum from which no one can escape  (much like Yeaworth's, "The Blob"), quicksand is actually water-saturated, grainy soil that is rarely the life-threatening entity it is portrayed to be. Even so, it is best to take common sense, preventive measures in order to avoid such scenarios. Do not trespass in areas that specifically warn of quicksand and, if at all possible, have a friend accompany you on hikes. Sherlock Holmes did neither. Of course, he was too preoccupied battling against a malicious, other-worldly hound to read a quicksand guide. Fortunately, you are not. Comments

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