The spices of the country, such as capsicum and ginger, for which nature has given the inhabitants of the torrid zone an appetite, have also been found powerful in fortifying the body against the influence of noxious air. Either these, or the bark, or similar substances, of a bitter and aromatic nature, given in a glass of spirits to men going upon unwholesome duty, have been found to have a powerful effect in preventing them from catching the fevers of the climate. The practice may be thought too troublesome in the hurry of service in a great fleet; and I in general avoid mentioning any thing but what is easily practicable, and highly important to the body of seamen at large; but such a precaution may be of service at least to officers, or to a ship’s company, when service is easy, or on a small scale. But besides the poisonous effluvia of woods and marshes, the sensible qualities of the air are also to be attended to. If I were required to fix on the circumstances most pernicious to Europeans, particularly those newly arrived in the West Indies, I would say, that they are too much bodily exercise in the sun, and sleeping in the open air; and the practices most hurtful next to these are, intemperance in drinking, and bad hours. The sickness and mortality among new comers may, in general, be imputed to some one of these causes. It is in favour of this opinion that women are not subject to the same violent fevers as the other sex, which is probably owing to their not giving into the above-mentioned irregularities. The last direction I shall mention with regard to the preservation of health in a harbour is, that the ship should be made to ride with a spring on the cable, that the side may be turned to the wind, whereby a free ventilation will be produced, and the foul air from the head, which is the most offensive part, will not be carried all over the decks, as it must be when the ship rides head to wind. Having little experience of my own with regard to diseases at sea in cold climates, I cannot recommend any particular precautions; but Dr. Lind thinks that garlick infused in spirits is one of the best preservatives against the bad effects of cold and wet. The French ships of war are furnished with great quantities of garlick as an article of victualling, and its effects seem to be very salutary. It would appear, that substances of this kind are very conducive to health in hot climates also. I was informed by Capt. Caldwell, that, when he commanded a sloop of war on the coast of Guinea, he was supplied with a large quantity of shalots by a Portuguese about the time he left the coast, and his men were remarkably healthy on the passage to the West Indies, while the other ships in company, who wanted this supply, were very sickly.