54? DISCOURSE ON THE STUDY 



strengthened the sinews of our most powerful arm, 

 and obliterated one of the darkest features in the 

 most glorious of all professions. 



(45.) These last, however, are instances of simple 

 observation, limited to the point immediately in view, 

 and assuming only so far the character of science as 

 a systematic adoption of good and rejection of evil, 

 when grounded on experience carefully weighed, 

 justly entitle it to do. They are not on that account 

 less appositely cited as instances of the importance 



manageable for want of hands, and the commander was obliged 

 to send men on board to take in their sails and hoist out their 

 boats. (Purchas's Pilgrim, vol. i. p. 149.) A Fellow of the 

 college, and an eminent practitioner, in 1753 published a tract 

 on sea scurvy, in which he adverts to the superior virtue of this 

 medicine ; and Mr. A. Baird, surgeon of the Hector sloop of 

 war, states, that from what he had seen of its effects on 

 board of that ship, he " thinks he shall not be accused of 

 presumption in pronouncing it, if properly administered, a 

 most infallible remedy, both in the cure and prevention of 

 scurvy." (Vide Trotter's MedicinaNautica.) The precautions 

 adopted by captain Cook in his celebrated voyages, had fully 

 demonstrated by their complete success the practicability of 

 keeping scurvy under in the longest voyages, but a uniform 

 system of prevention throughout the service was still deficient. 

 It is to the representations of Dr. Blair and sir Gilbert 

 Blane, in their capacity of commissioners of the board for sick 

 and wounded seamen, in 1795, we believe, that its systematic 

 introduction into nautical diet, by a general order of the admi- 

 ralty, is owing. The effect of this wise measure (taken, of 

 course, in conjunction with the general causes of improved 

 health,) may be estimated from the following facts : In 

 1780, the number of cases of scurvy received into Haslar 

 hospital was 1457 ; in 1806 one only, and in 1807 one. There 

 are now many surgeons in the navy who have never seen tha 

 disease. 



