338 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



were afflicted with scurvy to a considerable extent. 

 But inasmuch as the Nares' Expedition were consum- 

 ing water which was pure (according to the nitrate of 

 silver test, as testified to by Dr. Moss), and yet broke 

 down with scurvy, there may be some other cause to 

 affect us which we have yet to learn (and avoid, for we 

 do not want the proof by experience). 



It is very hard and almost impossible to get men to 

 understand the importance of this matter (when I say 

 men I mean the average seaman before the mast). Last 

 fall when I was straining every nerve to keep snow 

 water from being drunk after we found it becoming 

 impure, and burning coal more precious than diamonds, 

 to distill w^ith the Baxter boiler, some outrageous things 

 would occur. Though the men knew that diarrhoea 

 had been caused by impure water, and that it would 

 continue while such water was used, no judgment could 

 be discerned in some of them. For instance, as the 

 supply of distilled water was just equal to the demand 

 for drinking and cooking, it would not be quite cool at 

 all times, and though a moment's exposure of a tin 

 pot to the outside air would have cooled it more than 

 enough, goodness knows, a man would fill his tin cup 

 half full of snow before dipping it in the barrel, not 

 only making his own potf ul impure but spoiling more 

 or less the water in the barrel. Of course that was 

 stopped, the barrel headed up, and a faucet inserted", 

 and the fireman on duty put in charge of it. Again, 

 the cook finding the snow water, for cleaning dishes, 

 etc., pleasant enough to the taste, would add much or 

 little to the tea water as the distilled water was more 

 or less scant. This could be stopped and was stopped. 

 To him the idea of necessary quantity was more impor- 

 tant than any over-sensitiveness as to quality. These 

 merely illustrate the lack of judgment. 



