In my treatise on diseases of the lungs, I have enumerated the many causes of a cold to which mankind are liable, and their precautions to avoid them. To sea-faring men, I have one principal cause to mention whereby they make themselves subject to colds, and sow the seed of many dangerous diseases in their system, and that is their carelessness in shifting, after getting wet; in this respect, I have however a remedy to offer, which is as valuable and as efficacious to their preservation, as it is easily put in execution. The remedy is simply this: A man who has been exposed on duty in the rain, and is become thorough wet, should not only shift himself in dry cloaths, but previously wash all over with sea water: if he carefully observes this, he will never get cold on that account. I have not only experienced this personally many times, but ever found it productive of salutary effects to those I have persuaded to it.——If we but make some observations on the accidental occurrences that happen at sea, we shall see the just foundation of this. When do we find a man who is continually washed by the sea to have a cold? while on the contrary a foul rainy day, will almost breed a general sickness.——These observations first brought me on the notion of washing the body with salt water, and having verified it by experiment, I soon saw the propriety of it; namely, that the fresh water being of a sluggish nature, and having a tendency to putrefaction, is not only apt to infuse a putrescency into the system, but from its slimy nature apt to clog up the pores, and thus obstruct perspiration; whilst on the contrary, salt water is not only antiseptic, but stimulates the pores of the skin to their secretory and excretory functions.——Nay so perfectly have I experienced this remedy, that I have persuaded the people to salute one another by way of play with buckets of sea water on a foul rainy day, and with pleasure I have experienced that they have all remained brisk and hearty after it, and evidently seen the difference, that on a similar day the sea water play being omitted, scarce one who has been thorough wet, escaped a cold in some degree or other.——I must not forget, that a draught of grog is likewise no bad preservative. But this is best taken when the watch is out, and that rest and sleep can be indulged upon it, as that will then be apt to throw them into a gentle perspiration; whilst however their watch is upon deck, the best warmth is that which is produced by exercise; except liquors is taken with the greatest moderation.