"These experiments were brought to an end by the first of our many energy crises, in this case precipitated by an exceptionally long cold spell which lasted until the end of March 1947. It was soon found that national coal stocks were exhausted and the central heating was switched off in many buildings, including university laboratories. We then had no cold room in our part of the laboratory and I remember that David Hill took the opportunity of carrying out a series of experiments at 4ºC. But you can't dissect single fibers at such temperatures and I spent the time writing at home or talking with Andrew Huxley at Trinity where he could be seen cranking a Brunsviga calculating machine with mitten-covered fingers."

from Hodgkin, A.L. (1977)
Chance and Design in Electrophysiology.