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 increase of fevers in the old squadron was chiefly owing to their
having spread in the Nonsuch; and they seemed to partake more of
that kind which originates in jails and ships, than of that which
is peculiar to the climate. The body of one of the men who died of
this fever was inspected at the hospital, and there was found to be
inflammation and even perforation of the intestines, without any
previous symptom that could lead to expect such an appearance, a
circumstance more likely to happen in the former sort of fever than the
latter.
The increase of scurvy was owing to the numbers that were taken ill
of it in the Magnificent on the passage from Halifax, from whence
she sailed in the beginning of this month, and joined the fleet at
Barbadoes in the end of it. There was a great deal of sickness in this
ship at Halifax, and on the passage, owing to the want of such clothing
as was suitable to that severe climate. One of the principal complaints
was an inflammatory sore throat.
There was no change in the situation of the fleet, only that four ships
of the line were sent on the 16th to cruise near Guadaloupe, and they
continued at sea till the beginning of February.
The new squadron was much afflicted with the jail fever, brought from
England; and it was much more prevalent, as well as malignant, on board
of the Suffolk than any of the rest. During the passage it prevailed
most in the Princess Amelia, not less than twenty having died of it.
It subsided in this ship before she arrived in the West Indies; but on
board of the Suffolk it continued to rage for some months after.
As the hospital at Barbadoes was too small to contain all the sick
of this squadron, only the cases of greatest danger and the most
infectious were sent on shore, and those that remained were provided
with fresh vegetables and milk on board of their own ships, in the same
manner as had been formerly practised with such success on similar
occasions. This was continued for four weeks, during which time they
all got into tolerable health, except the Suffolk.
There appeared, by the returns of the new squadron, to be a greater
number under the head of “Other Complaints,” which was owing to the
number of pulmonic complaints, the consequence of the influenza which
prevailed in Europe, at sea, as well as on shore, in the spring and
beginning of the summer of this year.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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