IMPETIGINES. 649 



scribed, that there is no longer any doubt in discerning the 

 disease when it is present, or in distinguishing it from almost 

 every other ailment. In particular, it seems now to be fully 

 determined, that there is one disease only, entitled to the ap- 

 pellation of Scurvy ; that it is the same upon the land as upon 

 the sea; that it is the same in all climates and seasons, as 

 depending every where upon nearly the same causes ; and that 

 it is not at all diversified, either in its phenomena or its causes, 

 as had been imagined some time ago. 



MDCCXCI. The phenomena of scurvy, therefore, are not 

 to be described here, as it has been so fully and accurately done 

 elsewhere ; and I shall only endeavour to ascertain those facts 

 with respect to the prevention and cure of the disease which 

 seem not yet to be exactly agreed upon. And, first, with re- 

 spect to the antecedents that may be considered as the remote 

 causes of the disease. 



MDCCXCII. The most remarkable circumstance amongst 

 the antecedents of this disease is, that it has most commonly hap- 

 pened to men living very much on salted meats ; and whether 

 it ever arise in any other circumstances is extremely doubtful. 

 These meats are often in a putrescent state ; and to the circum- 

 stance of the long-continued use of animal food in a putrescent 

 and somewhat indigestible state, the disease has been especially 

 attributed. Whether the circumstance of the meat's being 

 salted has any effect in producing the disease, otherwise than 

 by being rendered more indigestible, is a question that remains 

 still in dispute. 



MDCCXCI 1 1. It seems to me, that the salt concurs in 

 producing the effect; for there is hardly any instance of the 

 disease appearing unless where salted meats had been employed, 

 and scarcely an example where the long-continued use of these 

 did not produce it : besides all which, there are some instances 

 where, by avoiding salted meats, or by diminishing the propor- 

 tion of them in diet, while other circumstances remained much 

 the same, the disease was prevented from appearing. Further, 

 if it may be admitted as an argument upon this subject, I 

 shall hereafter endeavour to show, that the large use of salt has 

 a tendency to aggravate and increase the proximate cause of 

 scurvy. 



