Observations on the Diseases of SeamenBlane, Gilbert, Sir
History
Observations on the Diseases of Seamen
Blane, Gilbert, Sir
Medicine, Naval -- Early Works To 1800; Sailors -- Diseases
The Invincible was also uncommonly healthy during this cruise, which
may likewise be ascribed to good discipline, and to her having been
more than three years in commission before sailing from England,
whereby the men were brought into order, and accustomed to each other
and to a sea life. This ship was almost singular in having no acute
diseases for several months after arriving from Europe; but at length
paid the tribute to the climate in May and June, as may be seen in the
Table.
From the account of the three frigates at the bottom of the list in
the Table, it appears how much more healthy they are than ships of the
line. The total complements of the three is exactly equal to that of
one seventy-four-gun ship; but their whole sickness and mortality is
less than that of any one ship of the line of that class, although the
Triton was uncommonly sickly for a frigate.
There seem to be several causes for the superior degree of health
usually enjoyed by this smaller class of ships. There is less chance of
mixtures of men in frigates, as their complement is smaller, and it is
more easy for the captain and officers to keep an eye over a few men
than a great number; for, in a great ship, there are generally men,
who, concealing themselves in the most retired parts, no one takes
cognizance of them, and they destroy themselves, and infect others,
by their laziness and filth. In the next place, there is a greater
proportion of volunteers and real seamen in frigates, and more landmen
and pressed men in ships of the line, the former being more in request,
on account of the greater chance of prize money. Lastly, a small ship
is more easily ventilated, and the mass of foul air issuing from
the hold, from the victuals, water, and other stores, as well as the
effluvia exhaling from the men’s bodies, is less than in a large ship.
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