I902] UNCERTAINTY OF ORIGIN 409 



in our western party, but I do not think such conditions can 

 be regarded as the prime cause. 



In summing up this brief survey of our outbreak of scurvy, 

 I may point out that the evidence shows it was caused by 

 the food the discontinuance of which led to recovery, and 

 that this food consisted of tinned meats which were to all 

 appearances of the best quality, and of apparently fresh 

 mutton taken in small quantity. Beyond this it seems impos- 

 sible to go, and consequently, as far as the investigation of 

 the disease is concerned, we are left in an unsatisfactory 

 position of doubt. 



Our scurvy came to us as a great surprise. Fully alive to 

 the danger of the disease, we seemed to have taken every pre- 

 caution that the experience of others could suggest, and when 

 the end of our long winter found everyone in apparently good 

 health and high spirits, we naturally congratulated ourselves 

 on the efficacy of our measures. How rudely we were awakened 

 from this pleasing attitude I have shown, and, though the 

 disease was banished with astonishing rapidity, the incident 

 could not fail to leave an impression that in some manner we 

 had been unwittingly culpable. Quite apart from the benefit 

 lost to medical science, therefore, it was extremely grievous 

 that, for our own personal satisfaction, we could not put 

 our finger on the spot, and definitely state whence the evil 

 sprang. 



Yet, inconclusive as our experience was, it serves to em- 

 phasise the lessons taught by former experiences. It shows 

 that too much care and attention cannot be paid to the pro- 

 visioning of a polar expedition ; it indicates that in this con- 

 nection the ordinary methods of food examination are not 

 sufficiently refined, but should be supplemented by chemical 

 analyses and every test that modern science can suggest ; and 

 it again points clearly to the inestimable advantage of fresh 

 food. 



In this last respect there lies the most invaluable safeguard 

 for the welfare of future Antarctic expeditions ; it seems evi- 

 dent that the whole circle of the Antarctic seas is abundantly 



