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the attention of every officer throughout the navy and commerce of the British empire.

“We had on board a large quantity of malt, of which was made sweet-wort, and given (not only to those men who had manifest symptoms of the scurvy, but to such also as were from circumstances, judged to be most liable to that disorder,) from one to two, or three pints a day to each man, or in such proportion as the surgeon thought necessary, which sometimes amounted to about three quarts in the twenty-four hours. This is without doubt one of the best anti-scorbutic sea medicines yet found out,—and if given in time, will, with proper attention to other things, I am persuaded, prevent the scurvy from making any great progress for a considerable time; but I am not altogether of opinion that it will cure it in an advanced state at sea.

“Sour-crout, of which we had also a large provision, is not only a wholesome vegetable food, but in my judgment, highly anti-scorbutic, and spoils not by keeping. A pound of it was served to each man when at sea twice a week, or oftener when it was thought necessary.

"Portable soup or broth was another essential article, of which we had likewise a liberal supply. An ounce of this to each man, or such other proportion as was thought necessary, was boiled with their peas three times a week, and when we were in places where fresh vegetables could be procured it was boiled with them, and with wheat or oatmeal every morning for breakfast, and also with dried peas and fresh vegetables for dinner. It enabled us to make several nourishing and wholesome messes, and was the means of making the people eat a greater quantity of greens than they would have done otherwise.

"Further, we were provided with rob of lemons and oranges, which the surgeon found useful in several cases.*

"Among other articles of victualling, we were furnished with sugar in the room of oil, and with wheat instead of much oatmeal, and were certainly gainers by the exchange. Sugar, I imagine is a very good anti-scorbutic; whereas oil, such at least as is usually given to the navy, I apprehend has the contrary effect; but the introduction of the most salutary articles, either as provisions or medicines, will generally prove unsuccessful, unless supported by certain rules of living.

"The crew were at three watches, except upon some extraordinary occasion. By this means they were not so much exposed to the weather as if they had been at watch and watch, and they had generally dry clothes to shift themselves when they happened to get wet. Care was also taken to expose them as little as possible. Proper methods were employed to keep their persons, hammocks, bedding, clothes, &c., constantly clean and dry. Equal pains were taken to keep the ship clean and dry between decks. Once or twice a week she was aired with fires, and when this could not be done, she was smoked with gunpowder, moistened with vinegar or water, I had also frequently a fire made in an iron pot at the bottom of the well, which greatly purified the air in the lower parts of the ship. To this and cleanliness, as well in the ship as amongst the people, too great attention cannot be paid, the least neglect occasions a putrid offensive smell below, which nothing but fires

Rob of lemons and oranges, an extract which contains all the virtues of the infusion, is now generally termed syrup,

will remove, and if these be not used in time, those smells will be attended with bad consequences. Proper care was taken of the ship's coppers, so that they were kept constantly clean. The fat which boiled out of the salt beef and pork I never suffered to be given to the people, as is customary, being of opinion that it promotes the scurvy.*

"I never failed to take in water wherever it was to be procured, even when we did not seem to want it, because I look upon fresh water from the shore to be much more wholesome than that which has been kept some time on board. Of this essential article we were never at an allowance, but had always an abundance for every necessary purpose. I am convinced, that with plenty of fresh water, and a close attention to cleanliness, a ship's company will seldom be much afflicted with the scurvy, though they should not be provided with any of the antiscorbutics before-mentioned,

"We came to few places where either the art of man or nature did not afford some sort of refreshment or other, either of the animal or vegetable kind. It was my first care to procure what could be met with of either, by every means in my power, and to oblige our people to make use thereof, both by my example and authority, but the benefits arising from such refreshments soon became so obvious, that I had little occasion to employ either the one or the other.

"These, Sir, were the methods under the care of Providence, by which the Resolution performed a voyage of three years and eighteen days, through all the climates from 52° north to 71° south, with the loss of one man only by disease, and who died of a complicated and lingering illness, without any mixture of scurvy. Two others were unfortunately drowned and one killed by a fall, so that of the whole number with which we set out from England I lost only four.

(Signed)

"I am &c.,

"JAMES COOK."

There are golden rules laid down in this invaluable document which should be cherished, and as far as circumstances will admit, they should be adhered to throughout the sea service. The generous and humane example of that great and good man Captain Cook, has ever been held up as a pattern to the Navy, and the Merchant service, and wherever it has been followed, the same beneficial consequences have been the happy result.

But there have been, and still are, exceptions to so easy and salutary a practice,-why, and wherefore,-I will now endeavour to explain. When the sea scurvy raged with such ungovernable violence, the primary cause was believed to be owing to the very bad quality of provisions supplied for use on long voyages,—and secondly, to the ignorance which prevailed, before any specific remedies to subdue that dreadful malady were discovered and ascertained.

The many beneficial changes which have taken place in the Navy, have at length produced as perfect a system of victualling ships-of-war as can well be devised, and this great example should 'ere this time

* Many seamen to this day are very fond of using this fat, which they call cook's slush, the practice is very pernicious to health, and is generally supposed to induce scurvy.

have produced a corresponding amendment throughout the mercantile marine; for I have no hesitation in saying, that the principal cause of scorbutic disease in that service, however few the cases may be, arises from the undefined and irregular mode of victualling in the merchant service.

A well defined and uniform scale of provisions is a grand desideratum for the reform of the merchant service, and is well worthy the serious attention of the home government, but the victualling and medical supplies are now dependant on the will and caprice of ship-owners: whereas, if some legal enactment enforced an efficient and equitable store of the best quality of provisions, of medicines, and anti-scorbutics, the health, comfort, and welfare of seamen, would be adequately provided for, and British seamen would then be bound by stronger ties of allegiance to their country. It is well known that a short allowance of provisions, and those sometimes of a bad quality, are frequent sources of discontent and insubordination, and such grievances are intolerable, and ought to be rooted out by the highest authority.

Preventive means as a check to the scurvy, and for the cure of tha disease, are so well known, and can be so easily provided, that no officer having under his care and protection any number of seamen, can plead ignorance as to those remedies with which he ought to be supplied, but independent of diet and other specifics, there are other means of prevention which are not sufficiently attended to, viz. ventilation, cleanliness, and discipline. On the two first essential points, Captain Cook dwells with much force, and it is scarcely credible that there can be any neglect or indifference to such important duties, but the variety of changes in conduct and management observed between one ship and another, shews that such strict attention to the general health and comfort of a ship's crew are not always the practice. Those ships which maintain the highest order and regularity are in general the most healthy, but strict discipline impelled by fear and unrestrained severity, is neither conducive to health nor comfort, the happy medium is that system which shall maintain due order and respectful obedience with alacrity and cheerfulness, therefore sailors ought to be indulged and encouraged in every possible enjoyment and recreation, and in such a happy state will be found another preventive to the scurvy.

Dr. Blane when serving with Lord Rodney in 1781, stated, that the prevention and cure of the scurvy may be best insured by the concomitants, diet, cleanliness, and recreation.

With respect to diet, I need only observe that those specific remedies against scurvy, which for prevention or cure are known to produce the most salutary effect, are abundantly found throughout the East and West Indies. I allude to those of the vegetable kind. Yams are an excellent substitute for potatoes, and in the course of my experience, I have known them to keep with care for two months; potatoes are plentiful at the Cape, and at St. Helena; limes or lemons are equally abundant, and all these essential supplies are generally much cheaper than flour; therefore every vessel ought to provide a due proportion of this cheap and easy method of preserving the health of their crews. Since my arrival here. I have been surprised to find how seldom a stock of yams is thought of for the homeward supply of provisions;-the best

kind in this part of India is, I understand, grown near Pondicherry, but with due encouragement, I have no doubt this excellent and very wholesome vegetable might be improved, and more generally produced in the vicinity of Madras.

Fumigation is another precaution against disease, which is too much neglected; I have always enforced this duty, and sometimes by a very simple process, viz. by damping a quantity of rope yarns, termed shakings, in a small tub, lighting them, and with due caution guarding against any flame being produced, whereby a dense smoke issues forth, and by moving the tub from one part of the deck to another it searches everywhere.

I have also had the decks occasionally dried and well aired with coal fires in swinging stoves, and this practice after a long continuance of wet weather, especially in high latitudes, cannot be otherwise than conducive to health and comfort.

The importance of ventilation and a general regard to cleanliness are so obvious, that I will only remark, that without constant care and attention seamen are very careless as to personal cleanliness, and after exposure to wet and rain there are many of this improvident and heedless race of beings who will suffer their clothes to dry on them, and even turn into their hammocks in the same state rather than shift or change so many instances of this culpable negligence and indifference have come within my own knowledge, that I am convinced the only sure method for checking and preventing such evils is, to establish well known rules and regulations, and strictly enforce them;-even to this day, that wholesome practice of piping up and down hammocks, and airing the people's bedding is wholly neglected on board many merchant vessels, and yet the least reflection will shew that wet clothes and damp bedding may be considered as the origin of another scourge to which seamen are peculiarly liable-the Rheumatism*

Although the crew of a merchant ship cannot be divided into three watches, yet there are many occasions at sea when their arduous duties may be relaxed and relieved, and a watchful eye over their many wants and privations may save them from unnecessary fatigue and undue exposure to heat or cold, to wet and rain.

All the suggestions contained in the treatise referred to, those so well defined in Captain Cook's letter, and those which have successfully and beneficially borne the test of practice and experience, form together an admirable code for the preservation of the health and comfort of a neglected and well deserving class of men, who, with all their faults, are rough and ready for all weather, and for every service; and as the brave and gallant defenders of their country they merit the protection and care of the supreme government, on whom devolves the duty of guarding them from wrong and oppression.

This code embraces the most essential duties of command, and it well becomes every captain and every officer to study and practice its excellent precepts, they may thereby, learn and duly appreciate the substantial good which can be obtained by an unremitting care and attention

* That good and wholesome practice of allowing a ship's company one or two days each week, to wash and mend their clothes is still very partially in use-they should be encouraged in these cleanly habits, and provided with soap.

to the welfare and happiness of men committed to their protection and support; and they will find how much good may be realized when the pressing duties of a seaman's career are called forth under the guidance of unswerving justice and humanity;-that a willing and cheerful obedience will go hand in hand, while mutual respect and confidence shall pervade throughout that ship, which, in perfect discipline, displays the union of external beauty and internal order, with the experience of contentment and happiness on the part of her gallant crew.

"The reports of the medical officers of the Dreadnought prove the frequent occurrence of cases of scurvy, of the very worst description, to which the committee beg to draw the particular attention of owners and masters of ships-experience shewing that the remedy of this baneful enemy to the seaman, does not consist so much upon fresh meat diet, as upon a plentiful supply of vegetables, lime-juice, and fruit, whenever they can be procured and carried to sea."

The Dreadnought, 98, was one amongst the glorious fleet which subdued and vanquished the combined fleet of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar, and was given by government to the public as a floating hospital for seamen of every nation :-this is one of the best conducted and most valuable institutions in England.

Madras, May 27th, 1840.

C. B.

ATLANTIC STEAMERS.

A POSITION of importance to steam navigation has been laid down in Mercator's observations on Atlantic steamers, in the June number of the Nautical 1840, viz:-that they ought to be constructed on the model of fast rowing boats instead of sailing vessels. Having long entertained a similar opinion, though founded on a less extended examination of rowing boats, my conclusions are yet in some degree at variance with those advocated by Mercator. His arguments are weakened (I conceive) rather than enforced by such a marked reference to boats adapted for being launched through a surf, as the conditions under which the large steamers are impelled against heavy seas, coincide more nearly with those to which the east and west coasts gigs or gallies are subjected to, in rough weather among waves, comparatively as large in proportion to their size. In these boats the displacements of the fore and aft bodies are nearly equal, and the result is a great degree of regularity and ease in their pitching motion.

The only boat with which I am acquainted, the displacements of whose after-body exceeds that of the fore-body, is the Thames wherry.* When loaded aft, and judging from her performance in the head seas of the river, my opinion would not be in favour of that form. They are obviously however impelled by a small force under such circumstances, but, I conceive they are inferior to the common form of gig; more especially if the seas rise a point or two on either bow, as would occur to steamers in keeping a direct course. In this case the diagonal pitching

A most dangerous boat.-ED. ENLARGED SERIES. NO. 5.-VOL. FOR 1841.

2 Q

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