Observations on the Diseases of Seamen — John Shaqi
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
Many other and more minute remarks might be made on different ships
in this season of hard service; but to do this would be tedious, and
the inspection of the Tables may suggest observations to the reader.
There is a striking and instructive fact, however, with regard to two
ships, which I cannot help relating. The Alcide and Invincible, both
of seventy-four guns, in working to windward, after the action with
the French fleet, on the 29th of April, anchored at Montserrat on the
11th of May, in order to water. They remained there only part of two
days, and they procured no refreshment, except a few bushels of limes.
The scurvy then prevailed to a great degree in both ships; but between
this time and the 23d of May, when they came to an anchor at Barbadoes,
sixty men, who had been confined with this disease, were discharged,
as fit for duty, from the sick list of the Invincible, and a hundred
and fourteen from that of the Alcide. These were the only two ships
that had the advantage of the limes; and during these twelve remaining
days of the voyage the scurvy continued to increase in all the other
ships. Dr. Lind is the first author who gives a decided preference to
lemons, limes, and oranges, over every other antiscorbutic; and the
above-mentioned fact proves as demonstrably as possible the infinite
advantage of this species of acid in scurvy.
The fleet was supplied with essence of malt during all this campaign;
and though it was, no doubt, of service, it was far from having that
powerful and manifest effect that the acid fruits had, and certainly
did by no means prevent the scurvy in all cases. I have strong
testimonies, however, of its beneficial effects from the surgeons of
several of the ships, particularly of the Gibraltar, Centaur, Torbay,
and Alcide, in all of which it was found either to cure the scurvy in
its first beginning, to retard its progress, or to mend the appearance
of scorbutic ulcers, and dispose them to heal.
I had conceived that melasses, being a vegetable sweet, must have
been a very powerful antiscorbutic; but the greatest part of the last
reinforcement of seven ships came from England furnished with this as
an article of victualling, as a substitute for a certain proportion of
oatmeal, which was withheld agreeably to a late very judicious order
of the Admiralty. But though I am persuaded that this article of diet
mitigated the disease, it was very far from preventing it; and the
Princessa in particular, which suffered most from the scurvy, was well
supplied with it.
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