72 Dr. Mac CuUoch on Malaria on Ship-hoards 



impropriety of mentioning names, now high in office as in rank, 

 I could quote two pointed cases of ships of the hne, with equal 

 crews, and on the same services, on the coast of Brazil, where, 

 while the one lost a large number of men by the remittent 

 fever, obviously generated in the vessel, the other preserved 

 her health ; the difference of the two being, that the one was 

 closed up by bulk-heads, and that the commander of the 

 other, aware of their evil effects, had caused the whole to be 

 cleared away. 



I hope that I need not dwell longer on this particular 

 source of the fevers of ships : the precautions and modes of 

 prevention to which these statements lead will occupy but little 

 space. Cleanliness and ventilation are the leading points ; 

 but to be conducted in a far other manner and on very differ- 

 ent views from those in which they have usually been done, 

 because directed to very different purposes. 



It must be evident, in the first place, that the laborious 

 system of scouring and whitewashing is useless, otherwise than 

 it is advantageous for the sake of general cleanliness. It is 

 equally plain, that fumigations, though with the mineral acids, 

 must be without effect against a poison which is in a state of 

 hourly production and renewal. Nor can fires have more than 

 a temporary effect, since that must cease with the period of 

 their action. The radical cure consists in cleanliness as to 

 the hold of the vessel, for there the evil lies. This is the marsh, 

 if I may apply such a term ; the steady source of the malaria : 

 and the remedy is as simple as it is easy ; since it consists in 

 nothing more than washing the ship by means of the plug, 

 daily, or as often as that is necessary. And experience has 

 amply proved the value of this practice. It was the rule of 

 Admiral Baynton and of Captain Smyth, to continue this 

 operation till the pump brought up water as clear as that of 

 the sea outside, daily ; and the success of these commanders, 

 under this and the other precautions, I have already stated. 

 In the reverse way, experience has proved the same thing ; 

 since, in some of the most notorious and destructive instances 

 of fevers in ships of war, many of which I could name but 

 must not, it was found that from neglect of this process, the 

 hold and ballast were a mass of mud ; and, what is more remark* 



