Dr. Mac Culloch on Malaria on Ship-hoard. 73 



able, that the character of the very same ship, as to sickness or 

 health, had always changed with the change of commanders, 

 just as the sailing qualities of a vessel has been known to do 

 under similar changes.. 



What else may be said as to prevention in this case, relates 

 to ventilation. Separations in a ship are often unavoidable ; to 

 a certain extent, always indispensible. But ventilation can still 

 be effected through wind-sails, or other well-known means ; 

 and if the general principles here laid down should ever be 

 admitted and understood in the Navy, or in ships generally, 

 an attentive and able officer will find no difficulty, under any 

 possible circumstance, whether as it relates to this cause or the 

 former, in adopting such regulations of detail as the general 

 principles indicate ; and such as will doubtless prove efficacious 

 in diminishing or preventing this long-standing and most active 

 cause of mortality in the Navy, or in ships of whatever nature. 

 Admiral Baynton well remarks, that his own crews were always 

 far healthier than an equal number of people in any country 

 town in England ; and, in truth, it ought to be so ; since, Avith 

 the exception of these fevers, for ever incurred through the 

 grossest neglect, it is not easy to conceive a situation more 

 salubrious than that of a ship at sea, more free, at least, when 

 we consider the usages and conditions of the inhabitants, and 

 their modes of life, from mortal diseases. 



I think that I need not proceed ; because, if what I have 

 said is not capable of producing conviction, I cannot conceive 

 that anything will. In this case, I must trust to Time, the great 

 friend to all improvement, who for ever effects what evidence 

 and reason cannot. But it will be convenient to place, in a 

 brief and simple summary, the chief regulations which have 

 been here proposed, that they may be more conveniently com- 

 mitted to memory, should any one think that the entire re- 

 commendation deserves attention. 



With respect to the possible effects of land or its malaria on 

 ships, it would be prudent to avoid approaching this within a 

 a certain distance, in tropical climates, and on low shores espe- 

 cially, unless in cases of necessity 5 and this distance to be 

 limited to not less than three or four miles. 

 Whenever anchoring can be dispensed with in such cases, it 



