The Seaman's Medical Instructor: In a Course of Lectures on Accidents and Diseases Incident to SeamenFalck, N. D. (Nikolai Detlef)
Science
The Seaman's Medical Instructor: In a Course of Lectures on Accidents and Diseases Incident to Seamen
Falck, N. D. (Nikolai Detlef)
First aid in illness and injury -- Early works to 1800; Medicine, Popular -- Early works to 1800
_Take malt bruised, a pound, or three handfuls; sassafrass
chips, a small handful; boil it in a gallon of water for an
hour, and strain it off for use._
Let this be the constant drink, which in a short time will revive the
already tainted habit. Onions, horse-raddish, and mustard, &c. such as
will keep on board, should plentifully be made use of, and the pills No.
X. should be taken every twenty-four hours, at a time when going to
rest.
This method will soon bring the patient to health again, particularly if
in the first stage; but when it is come to the second degree, or in a
state of rapid decay, more effectual and immediate means must be taken.
Here then I shall present the method, which by experience I know to be
efficacious.
No. XLIX
_Take a large tub, (a butt sawed in two) in which place a stool,
or something to sit on; Then let the patient be stript naked and
seated in the tub; pour into the bottom of the vessel about one
gallon of good vinegar; put a blanket all over the patient, and
the tub, so that the whole is covered like a hut. Then heat a
large poker; which put into the vinegar in order to rise a
steam; which continue for about a quarter, or half an hour, or
longer, according to the circumstances._
If the patient is very scorbutic, it should be repeated three times a
day, or even oftener, for the effect of this steam-bath is so powerful,
that I have with pleasure seen the patient when not able to crawl to the
tub; he has been so revived by the operation, as to come out of his own
accord quite refreshed.
In the mean time the elixir of iron as is described No. XXVIII. should
be taken; the mouth often washed with vinegar, lemon juice, or rather
with the elixir of the iron, and sugar, should be both plentifully used
in the drink, and with the victuals.
Salt provisions should be avoided as much as possible, or else
previously well deprived of its salt.
By this method the scurvy may not only be prevented at sea, but even
cured in the most inveterate degree.
If however there is an opportunity for the patient to come on shore, it
will greatly facilitate his cure; though he should reap no other benefit
than the exhalations of the earth in the warmth of the day: and I have
with astonishment seen patients devour vegetables in large quantities,
and mended surprizingly, even in a few hours; so powerful an antidote is
the vegetable effluvia to an animal putrescency.
To conclude, I have only this to observe, that the scurvy is principally
owing to defaults with respect to provisions, and the customary way of
living in ships in general; and such as might be much amended, both with
respect to conveniency, wholesomeness, and expence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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