44. The following, as they are strong Proofs of the great Benefit and Usefulness of Ventilators in Ships, so they also fully prove that they can most commodiously be fixed and worked in them, in contradiction to the vulgar, false, and groundless Notion, that they take up too much room, and are incommodious, and in a manner impracticable to be worked, whereas the Men are eager to work them; and many more Persons can be with Safety to their Health and Lives in a ventilated, than in an unventilated Ship; which fully obviates the Objection as to the Room they take up. In new and important Researches, the likeliest Way to succeed, is to pursue a Thought not only by imperfect and fallacious Reasonings, but when the Nature of the Thing requires it, with a proper Series of Trials and Experiments. Thus in the present Case, the principal Cause of the Sickness in Ships, is the noxious putrid Air; the obvious Remedy is the exchanging that foul Air for fresh, by effectual Means, which are seldom discovered by dwelling only on Objections, but are usually the Reward of repeated diligent, experimental Researches. Neither are we to be discouraged in these our Pursuits by some Disappointments, for I have frequently found that they lead to the Thing sought for: And by the like Clue of Reasoning and Experimenting, there is the greatest Probability that we shall succeed in another very important Research, _viz._ the preserving much longer from Decay the Timbers of Ships laid up in ordinary in Harbour: For as we are assured by daily Experience, that the Decay is wholly owing to damp, close confined putrid corroding Air; so the only Remedy for this Evil, is the frequently changing the Air among the Timbers, by plentiful Ventilations; which we find by happy Experience, can be effected to such a Degree, as give reasonable Hopes, enough to encourage our farther Trials and Researches.