But besides this difficulty belonging to the nature of the subject, there were others connected with the nature of the service; for the hospitals were at times so inadequate in point of size, and so ill provided with necessary articles and accommodations, particularly during the first part of my attendance, that my principal care was to remedy these defects by proper superintendence and representation. A due attention to air, diet, and cleanliness, is not only more essential than mere medical treatment, but the sick cannot be considered as fit subjects for evincing the powers of medicine till they are properly provided for in these respects. These inconveniences were owing, in a great measure, to the unusual extent of the service; for there was a much greater naval force in those seas, at this period, than was ever before known, and there was of course a proportional want of accommodation for the sick. Towards the end of the war these difficulties were much obviated, so that a fairer field of observation presented itself. Another obstacle to my practical inquiries was, that the fleets I belonged to seldom remained more than six weeks or two months at any one place, so that any series of observations that might have been instituted was interrupted, and I was in a great degree deprived of the fruits of them, by not seeing the event of cases under my management. The peace in the spring of the year 1783 put an end to all my inquiries, and particularly prevented me from following out some practical researches. I have ventured, however, in one part of this work, to give the result of my experience in some diseases, more especially such as are peculiar to the climate and mode of life.