WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH AND DISEASE. 279 



when the Resolution, with a larger crew, had only three 

 men sick, and only one of them from scurvy. This dif- 

 ference in the state of health of the two ships, was dis- 

 tinctly traced to the crew of the Adventure having eaten 

 few or no vegetables when in Queen Charlotte's Sound, 

 while on board the Resolution, Cook was most particular 

 in enforcing attention to this part of their dietetic regimen 



891. In looking forward, to a still greater diminution 

 of disease in the human family, it is cheering to fix at- 

 tention to what has been already accomplished by the 

 hand of authority. Had the same individuals who cir- 

 cumnavigated the globe with Cook, or braved the north- 

 ern winters with Ross and Parry, been left for the same 

 number of years to undergo the ordinary vicissitudes of 

 life at home, unrestrained in their inclinations and conduct 

 by the constantly operating, and beneficent influence of a 

 superior mind, it is morally certain that disease and death 

 would have made greater havoc among them than ac- 

 tually occurred amid privations and sufferings much 

 greater than they were likely to have encountered at 

 home. Hence the obvious and pressing necessity which 

 exists of diffusing widely among society that species of 

 knowledge which has proved beneficial in the hands of 

 those who are fortunate enough to possess it. If human 

 health and happiness may be thus effectually promoted by 

 increased attention to the conditions which regulate the 

 vital and animal functions, nothing can be more useful 

 than to communicate to every intelligent being such a 

 measure of knowledge as will enable him to (Jo that for 

 his own improvement and safety, which government now 

 does for those whose services it requires. 



892. Diminution of Mortality in Different Countries. 

 It appears that increased attention to organic laws, and 

 improvement in the practical science of medicine, has of 

 late greatly diminished the rate of mortality in several 

 countries, and that by the same means, the present ratio 

 will still be diminished, there is every reason to hope, and 

 believe. 



893. Dr. Hawkins, in his Medical Statistics, estimated 

 that in 1780 the annual mortality in England and Wales 

 was 1 in 40; in 1790 it was 1 in 45; in 1801 it was 1 



