[75] WOKK OF STEAMER ALBATEOSS. 77 



REPOET OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, BY JAMES M. 

 FLINT, SURGEON, U. S. N. 



The sauitary arrangements of the ship for ventilation, heatinj4-,light- 

 ing, &c., were very thoroughly considered by Passed Assistant Surgeon 

 0. G. Herndon, U. S. Navy, in his General Medical Report for 1S83. No 

 changes have since been made which render further comment necessary. 

 The system of forced ventilation by down-draft has demonstrated the 

 possibility' of supplying an abundance of fresh air to all parts of a ship. 

 The question is reduced to one of expense merely, in the form of coal 

 and labor. It only remains to convince those in authority that oxygen 

 is an element as important to the animal tissues as carbon, hydrogen, 

 and nitrogen ; in other words, that a supply of fresh air is as necessary 

 to the health, comfort, and cheerfulness of men, as is a liberal allow- 

 ance of other food, now so generously provided for; and the question of 

 expense will be quickly solved. The lavish hand that prepares the ra- 

 tion tables will not be less free in dealing out oxygen, when its neccs 

 sity or even advantage shall be realized. I concur with the opinion of 

 Dr. Herndon that for the best results the fan should be run continuously 

 at a low speed, rather than intermitteutlj' at a high rate. 



The general health of the ship's company during the year has been 

 I excellent. No severe accident or serious illness has occurred. Of the 

 I minor ailments few, if any, have been due to removable local condi- 

 I tions. The irritations of mucous membranes, as shown by catarrhs 

 I and slight bronchial affections, and the cellular inflammations resulting 

 j in abscesses and boils, are properly attributable to sudden changes of 

 I temperature, or strong local draughts of cold air, or to excessive hu- 

 midity, but these conditions are for the most part irremediable, and 

 I must be reckoned among the unhealthful influences inseparable from 

 . the occupation of the mariner. It is only fair to state that other 

 i conditions than purely local ones tend to keep up the good health of the 

 ship. The crew are all in the prime of life, no boys or old^men among 

 j them ; the period of enlistment is for one year only, thus permitting 

 ' a weeding out of the less vigorous and the inefficient; the climatic con- 

 ditions are most favorable, the ship cruising in northern waters in sum- 

 I mer, and southern in winter ; and while liberty is freely granted the 

 j men at all ports, yet the disposition to riotous forms of dissipiition is 

 I much less than the average. 



The determination and records of sea-water densities have been 

 j assigned to this departments. This work has been princii)ally carried 

 1 on by Mr. N. B. Miller, apothecar}' of this ship, and I can testify to 

 ' the care and faithfulness with which it has been executed. The gravi- 

 I ties of a few samples have been determined by actual weight by Dr. 

 ] J. H. Kidder, antl a comparison of results justities a belief in the gen- 

 eral accuracy of the work done on board. The instrument in use is the 



