1822.] Dr. Trotter on 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
On the DEFECTS im WORKS on NAVAL 
HISTORY; by DR. TROTTER. 
HILE the authors of naval his- 
tories have dwelt with pecu- 
liar pleasure on the exploits of our 
naval officers and seamen, it has been 
matter of regret to me, that no mention 
has ever been made of those important 
improvements, in the civildepartments 
of the service, which have been one 
great cause of the extraordinary exer- 
tions of our naval operations. It is a 
strange perversion of human curiosity, 
to be amused only with scenes of car- 
hage and blood. A Roman was re- 
warded with a civic crown, who saved 
the life of a citizen; but in Christian 
Britain no such honours wait the man 
who. may snatch hundreds from the 
grave. The two last wars have been 
remarkable for improvements in the 
health of our seamen, beyond all for- 
mer calculation, A ship of the line, 
during the revolutionary war with our 
colonies, could not cruize eight weeks 
in the English channel without having 
a considerable portion of the ship’s 
company disabled by scurvy, and 
some of them dying before they could 
be landed at an hospital. Ships 
crossing the Atlantic, whether in 
Squadrons to re-inforce our fleets, or 
to conduct merchant vessels, were 
constantly overrun with this disease, 
when they reached America, and often 
remained inactive from this cause for 
months. Two, three, and four. hun- 
dred men in one ship, were frequently 
found in the sick list; from which 
number would happen sixty or eighty 
deaths at sea. This was not all; the 
remaining part would be so enfeebled 
by hard duty, that their appearance in 
coming into port was like so many 
Skeletons. The melancholy picture 
of Lord Anson’s ship, thé Centurion, 
from an overwhelming scurvy, as 
drawn by the chaplain, has been often 
equalled in our naval service. These 
frightful accounts of human suffering 
might be read with silent feelings of 
regret and compassion, did we not 
know that the whole might have been 
prevented at a small expense to the 
nation. The lemon, and all fruits of 
that class, have been known as effec- 
tive cures for scurvy for more than 
200 years. Butso defective were the 
arrangements in the medical depart- 
ment, that nota single chest of lemons 
‘or oranges were ever seen in store, or, - 
im a king’s ship, on home service, 
MontTHLY Mas. No. 300, 
Naval History. 489 
where the disease was most apt to 
appear in its hideous forms. On all 
Stations, therefore, the most important 
operations were often frustrated by 
this malady; and I have been told of 
instances where 250 men have died in 
a singleship. Scurvy has always been 
more fatal in a ship of the line than in 
vessels of one deck, as frigates and 
sloops, from causes easily accounted 
for. 
Things went on in this way till the 
beginning of the French war in 1793; 
and when [ became physician to the 
Royal Hospital at Haslar, in Decem- 
ber, there was not an ounce of lemon- 
juice within its walls.* Lord Gard- 
ner got a supply of lemon-juice for a 
squadron of ships intended for India, 
in spring 1794, which was a novelty. 
In the severe winter of 1794-5, a 
general scurvy began to appear in all 
ships on the home station, both in 
port and at sea, chiefly owing to the 
Victualling Board contracting the 
allowance of fresh beef in harbour, as 
provisions grew enormously dear. I 
was now physician to the fleet, and 
foresaw all the mischief that was about 
to overwhelmus. But my predictions 
were not regarded. Jt unfortunately 
happened, the flag-officers of the chan- 
nel fleet were all absent.- I was 
therefore compelled to address my 
first letter on the subject to the port- 
admiral, Sir Peter Parker.’ We here 
see how little institutions in the navy 
were provided against such occur- 
rences; and how little the minds of 
officers were prepared for such misfor- 
tunes. After waiting a few days for 
the expected answer from the Admi- 
ralty to my proposals of safety, on 
calling at the admiral’s office, I was 
told by the secretary, that Sir Peter 
did not see any necessity for putting the 
country to such expense, and he had not 
sent the letter. Stung with resentment 
at the cold-blooded reply, I ran to 
my desk, and detailed the condition 
of our increasing malady, and request- 
ed the immediate attention ‘of their 
lordships. Earl Howe, who was ill 
at Bath, on hearing of our distress, 
seconded my application, Sir Roger 
Curtis, captain of the fleet, was in 
London, and flew from Board to 
Board, to support my means of relief. 
The Admiralty instantly ordered the 
Board of Sick and Hurt to purchase 
* See Medica} and Chemiéal Essays, by 
Dr. Trotter. 
3Q fruit 
