It happened on this, as on the former occasion, that none were sent on shore but such as were very ill, or had contagious complaints, the rest being provided with refreshments on board of their ships. There were no wounds at this time, but there was a greater proportion of fevers; so that the complaints, upon the whole, might be said to be about equally dangerous. The mortality now was, however, considerably less, and this is to be imputed to the more favourable situation of the hospital, which I did not allow to be overcrowded; and the men had all manner of justice done them in point of attendance and accommodation. I shall give another example of the same kind in the hospital at Jamaica, when our fleet went there after the battle of the 12th of April. All the men accounted for here were landed from the fleet under Lord Rodney in May, June, and July, 1782[26]. +--------------------+-----------+-------+-------------+ | DISEASES. | Admitted. | Died. | Proportion. | +--------------------+-----------+-------+-------------+ | | | | NEARLY | | | | | ONE IN | +--------------------+-----------+-------+-------------+ | Fevers | 224 | 71 | 3 | | Fluxes | 65 | 23 | 3 | | Scurvy | 48 | 10 | 5 | | Ulcers | 92 | 21 | 4 | | Wounds | 70 | 18 | 4 | | Other Complaints | 40 | 18 | 2 | +--------------------+-----------+-------+-------------+ | Total | 539 | 161 | 3½| +--------------------+-----------+-------+-------------+ This uncommon degree of mortality was not owing to the bad air of the place, for Port Royal is naturally as healthy as most parts in that climate; nor was it owing to bad accommodations, or to neglect of any kind; but is imputable entirely to this circumstance, that the hospital being extremely small, those only were sent to it who were very ill. There were at this time upwards of forty ships of the line at Jamaica, and an hospital, containing only three hundred beds, could afford but a very inadequate relief. Some officers are unwilling that any man should die on board of their ships, for fear of dispiriting the others; and many were sent to the hospital, in the most desperate stage of sickness, that they might there die. There cannot be a stronger proof than this of the fallacy of judging of the success of practice by the proportion of the deaths; for the sick on this occasion were better accommodated, better provided for in every respect, and as regularly attended, as at any other period of my service in the West Indies, yet the mortality was greater than at any other time.