730 
In a chapter upon spasmodic com- 
plaints, he takes occasion to point out, 
as a very singular circumstance connect- 
ed with the constitution of seamen, that 
they are particularly subject to such 
complaints as are called nervous. 
«« That a body of men,” says the author, 
«« by education and habit accustomed to ad- 
venture, braving danger in every hideous 
form, and surpassing hardship, famine, and 
fatigue, im every shape, (the very relation of 
which appals the puny imagination of timid 
minds, enfeebled by luxury and delicacy in 
the fashionable or retired walks of life) should 
be subject to complaints more nearly allied 
to the tender fettuile, than the robust mascu- 
Tine constitution, would appear a paradox, 
did not daily experience confirm the fact.” 
* * * * 
*¢ There 1s a something in the atmosphere 
of a ship, perhaps deficiency of oxygene, 
and the local confinement on board, that, to 
particular persons, are a never-failing cause 
of vapours and dyspeptic feelings. The 
moftons and actions of the stomach and in- 
testinal canal are retarded and become irre- 
gular, and habitual costiveness at sea is com- 
mon in many constitutions. 1 do not think 
that this depends so much on the sea diet as 
has been generally imagined. The situation 
itself affords less variety than raost other 
conditions of life; day after day you go 
through the same kind of routine, the same 
objects are presented to the eyes, the same 
smells to the nose, and the same sounds to 
the organs of hearing. As all stimuli lose 
their effect by repetition, and asa peculiar 
train of ideas so naturally follows external 
impressions on the organs of sense, that con- 
dittoniof mind is generated which is usually 
styled nervous. Butthe effect appears to fall 
chiefly by sympathy or association on the 
stomach and bowels. ‘This complaint, there- 
fore, belongs with more propriety to the ca- 
talogue of the sea diséases than has been 
either suspected or believed ; and, if we ma 
jndge from the niultitude of cases shies 
ve come under our observation, it ought 
to be considered as a very common one. I 
have seen ina sick-birth, at one time, no less 
than five or six strongly-marked instances of 
violent hysteric, Long cruises in bad wea- 
ther, joined to severe and irksome duty in the 
fogey and variable climate of the channel, 
wil, at all times, produce these complaints ; 
such is the duty of a blockade. On the con- 
trary, I believe the disease is little known in 
the southern latitudes, for I have seen both 
officers and surgeons prefer a West-India 
station, solely with a view to escape it, which 
they could not do in the home cruises.” 
Independent, however, of the causes 
“now enumerated, the ‘author considers 
‘the disease as being particularly favour- 
“ed by a gouty constitution, fevers and 
fluxes; the too libsral use of spices, but 
MEDICINE, SURGERY, ANATOMY, &e. 
particularly hard drinking and frequent 
mercurial courses. Change of scene, 
and moderate exercise on shore, particu- 
larly on horseback, readily effect a cure. 
Dr. Trotter’s earliest labours were on 
the subject of scurvy, and the retrospect 
of them justly affords him considerable 
satisfaction.. In the present volume, he 
slightly notices this disease, in order to 
express .his disapprobation of the plan 
now in use in the navy for preventing it, 
that of continually giving an allowance 
of lemon juice to seamen. This he con- 
siders as unnatural in winter, and unne- 
cessary, except when the disease has ac- 
tually appeared. Vegetables, (which 
may always be carried out to sea,) and 
fresh meat, (when it can be procured), 
will effectually prevent it, but at the 
same time there should never fail to be 
‘a sufficient stock of lemon juice, or rather 
of the concrete acid of lemons, in handy 
for the purpose of administering, when- 
ever symptoms of scurvy appear. 
The volume is concluded by an acs 
count of Capt. Markham’s sick birth, 
and sick diet; a few observations on 
sea-sickness ; and some communications 
from various navy surgeons on the ma- 
lignant ulcer, so common and ‘so obsti- 
nate among seamen. 
The sea diet is very well worthy of 
observation, and the plan of it should be 
universally adopted through the navy, 
as affording to the sick sailor various 
comforts, which could not be furnished 
by the public, but at a very great ex- 
pence. 
*« The plan,” as is mentioned by the’ au- 
thor inva letter to Sir Evan Nepean, <‘ is to 
establish a mess for the sick, by'the consent 
of each ship’s company, which is to be done 
from the salted provisions, &c. which the 
sick are unable to eat when indisposed, and 
confined to the sick bitth. There are nume- 
rous diseases, when it is either improper for 
the patient to use the ship’s diet, or when, 
from want of appetite, hedislikesit. A large 
allowance, therefore, goes to his messmates, 
which if not devoured by them, has often 
been sold on shore to disadvantage. Now, 
instead of this superabundant allowance being 
given to a man whose appetite rejects it, or 
to his messmates, who may sell it for bad 
urposes, Captain Markham, of the Centaur, 
fas been long in the habit of directing the 
purser to keep a book of credit for all such 
provisions, from a list daily furnished by the 
surgeon, which credit goes to the us¢ of the 
sick, and is converted into a fund for supply- 
ing live stock, whether sheep or poultry, 
porter, vegetables, fruit, &c. when the ship 
goes to sea; from this also, new, bread is 
daily baked for the use of the whole,” 
