Mankind are ever liable to accidents, how cautious soever their conduct in life may be: But seamen, particularly are more so; not only from their occupation, but from the precariousness of the element on which they are dependant, and which so often exposes them to the most imminent danger. I shall divide the accidents of bodily dangers, into falls, wounds, bruises, dislocations, fractures, scalding, burning, and drowning; and treat on each part separately, in as plain a manner as is in my power. ------------------------------------------- SECT. I. _Of Falls_ The man who falls, is partly bereft of his senses, or his presence of mind, and particularly so the more timorous he is of his own preservation; add to this, because he is unaccustomed to it; for custom makes us familiar in every thing: Thence we perceive the different effect in different persons in their falling; for some will fall with a good deal of judgment, prevent some unlucky blow or other; whilst another shall fall as heavy as a dead log, or like one drunk, without having the least chance of saving himself in any shape. I remember once I fell from the puttock shrowds of the fore-top, but providentially escaped without the least injury, my watch chain having catched some how, which I endeavoured to save. I confess this in a great measure was owing to good fortune; at the same time I was naturally very active, and having acquired a flight of jumping off the main-deck into the hold of a light ship, I thereby had habituated myself to stop my breath, and a presence of mind which principally saved me when I thus fell in good earnest. I only mention this to shew, that the greatest mischief in falling proceeds from timorousness and surprise. I knew a wag, who would play pranks that way to astonishment; he could let himself fall from any part of the rigging, catching as he came down like a cat, make all hands come round to his assistance, and then laugh at their credulous good nature. A man who falls is apt to lose his breath, particularly if he is not very careful, and has not presence enough to stop it the moment he finds himself fall; and the instant he loses his breath, he loses also his mental faculties; consequently comes motionless and exposed to every fatality. Thence we generally find a man, who has fallen from a considerable height, lays motionless like death on the spot, even though he has not received the least injury otherwise. _The Method._ When I have been called to such an accident, and found my patient motionless; I have untied his neckcloth taken him by the coller of his jacket, and shaken him heartily; which in the space of half a minute has brought him to, with a heavy sigh. Next I have bled him without loss of time, but not too copiously; after which I have examined him, and acted according to circumstances.