SCURVY. 173 



and other symptoms of scurvy. The gunner, 

 Mr. Donaldson, was in a very feeble state, not 

 being able to walk more than a quarter of an hour 

 without assistance ; and many more were limping 

 and complaining of general debility. As the 

 most sedulous attention had been bestowed, both 

 as to the quantity and the quality of the clothing 

 of every one, we were satisfied that this unwel- 

 come visitation, from which recent voyages to 

 this quarter have been for the most part happily 

 exempted, could not be attributed to any defici- 

 ency in these respects. Neither could it be as- 

 cribed to any deficiency in quantity or sameness 

 in kind of food, since fresh preserved meat with 

 maccaroni or rice, pickles and lime juice, had 

 been issued twice a week. But that nothing 

 might be omitted towards the eradication of the 

 evil, the last named article was now directed to 

 be served out three times, and an extra quantity 

 of preserved soup, cranberries, and other fruits 

 in our possession, considered to be anti-scorbutic, 

 were likewise placed at the disposal of the medi- 

 cal gentlemen. As it was necessary to prohibit 

 the use of spirits to such as were attacked, a 

 privation which few sailors like, they were apt to 

 conceal their situations, until detected by their 

 limping. I therefore directed Doctor Donovan 

 to examine the whole crew, when only two or 

 three additional cases, and those slight, were dis- 



