too 
Hr. Atkin on preferving Health 
narrations, however, no doubt can be enter¬ 
tained, that it is poflible for perfons to keep free 
from the fcurvy, in countries and feafons the 
moft intenfely cold, provided their diet and 
manner of living be properly adapted to fuch 
fituations; and this, without the aid of frefh 
vegetables, or any of thofe other prefervatives, 
which have of late been propofed by ingenious 
writers. 
When we compare the hiftories above recited, 
it is impoflible not to be immediately druck 
with thefe leading circumdances, that thofe in 
whom the fcurvy raged, fed upon fait provifions> 
and drank fpirituous liquors whereas thofe who 
cfcaped it, fed upon frefh animal food, or at 
lead preferved without fait , and drank water. 
It is well enough known among fea-faring 
people, that frefh animal food is ferviceable to 
fcorbutic perfons ; but whether the condant ufe 
of it alone would prevent the fcurvy, they have no 
means of experiencing. As little can we learn 
from their experience, whether any other mode 
of preferving animal flefh than that of faking, 
will keep it in fuch a date as to be falubrious 
food. But the narrative of the eight Engiifhmen 
feems to determine both thefe important points ; 
for their provifion was all of the animal kind, 
and the greated part of it was flefh, killed feveral 
months before, and kept from decaying, either 
by the coldnefs of the climate alone, or by the 
cooking 
