336 AN ACCOUNT OF 



being too much addicted to drinking rum, he was 

 subject to gouty swelUngs in the arms in winter, 

 and in the legs in summer. 



Nor was any of the sailors infected with this 

 disease : it happened only that a small blister ap- 

 peared, which soon dried off on the use of Hy- 

 drargiri prcvcipitati riibri. 



In June we had a great deal of fine weather, so 

 that all the sick soon recovered, and commenced 

 the voyage to the north in good health. 



The first entrance into the foggy sea immedi- 

 ately occasioned coughs, as usual, but not of any 

 consequence. 



In the vicinity of St. Lawrence Island, and par- 

 ticularly near the ice which covered the surface 

 of the sea on the north-east coast of the island, 

 the cold air had suddenly so injurious an effect on 

 the lungs of Captain Von Kotzebue, weakened by a 

 blow on the breast-bone during the storm in April 

 this year, that he was seized with spasms in the 

 lungs, and fainting-fits, and when he coughed even 

 spit blood, though in very small quantities. The 

 distressing thought that this sickness prevented 

 the execution of all he had proposed, and of the 

 chief object of his Voyage, had an equally injuri- 

 ous effect on liim, for it was necessary, for the pre- 

 servation of his health, to leave this cold region as 

 speedily as possible, and to expect his recovery in 

 repose on shore. 



At the same time a sailor was seized with a vio- 



