IGNORANCE OF THE HUMAN BODY. 277 



almost disappeared, and pneumonia (inflammation 

 of the lungs), with its too frequent consequence, 

 PHTHISIS, became infinitely more prevalent and fatal. 

 The facts were apparent to all, but the causes few 

 could divine. Some of our chymical wiseacres at- 

 tributed the pneumonic diathesis to the lime-juice 

 served out ; but this hypothesis need not detain us, 

 for I think a more rational explanation can be offered. 

 As the period of warfare was lengthened out, dis- 

 cipline gradually became more perfect, and, at length 

 attained its acme. Every evolution was now per- 

 formed with a rapidity and precision that seemed 

 the effect almost of magic. All machinery and ap- 

 paratus were not only so arranged as to give human 

 power its greatest force and facility of application, 

 but human strength was put to its ultimatum of ex- 

 ertion, and every muscular fibre of the frame called 

 into furious action, during each manoeuvre of navi- 

 gation or war. Thus, in exercising great guns, the 

 heaviest pieces of artillery were made to fly out and 

 in, or wheel round, with almost the celerity of a 

 musket in the hands of a fugleman. The most pon- 

 derous anchors were torn from their beds with 

 astonishing velocity ; while the men were often seen 

 lying about the decks breathless and exhausted after 

 such ultra-human exertions !" 



" But reefing and furling sails were still worse. 

 Here, as in all other operations, there was a constant 

 struggle against time. The instant that the word 

 "aloft" was given, the men flew up the shrouds with 

 such agility, that, by the time they were on the 

 yards, the respirations were nearer fifty than fifteen 

 in a minute ! In this state of anhelation they bent 

 across the yards, and exerted every atom of mus- 

 cular energy in dragging up the sails and securing 

 the reef-lines, while the thorax was strained and 

 compressed up against the unyielding wood ! What 

 were the consequences ? The air-cells were fre- 

 quently torn ; blood extravasated : and the origins 

 A a 



