VOL. LXVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 59 



24 hours. This is doubtless one of the best antiscorbutic sea medicines yet 

 found out ; and if given in time will, with proper attention to other things, I 

 am persuaded, prevent the scurvy from making any great progress for a consider- 

 able time : but I am not altogether of opinion that it will cure it in an advanced 

 state at sea. 



Soar krout, of which we had also a large provision, is not only a wholesome 

 vegetable food, but, in my judgment, highly antiscorbutic, and spoils not by 

 keeping. A pound of it was served to each man, when at sea, twice a week, 

 or oftener when it was thought necessary. Portable soup or broth, was another 

 essential article, of which we had likewise a liberal supply. An ounce of this to 

 each man, or such other proportion as was thought necessary, was boiled with 

 tiieir pease 3 days in the week ; and when we were in places where fresh vegeta- 

 bles could be procured, it was boiled with them and with wheat or oatmeal, every 

 morning for breakfast, and also with dried pease and fresh vegetables for dinner. 

 It enabled us to make several nourishing and wholesome messes, and was the 

 means of making the people eat a greater quantity of greens than they would 

 otherwise have done. We were also provided with rob of lemons and oranges ; 

 which the surgeon found useful in several cases. 



Among other articles of victualling we were furnished with sugar instead of 

 oil, and with wheat instead of much oatmeal, and were certainly gainers by the 

 exchange. Sugar, I imagine, is a very good antiscorbutic ; whereas oil, such at 

 least as is usually given to the navy, I apprehend has the contrary etiect. But 

 the introduction of the most salutary articles, either as provision or medicines, 

 will generally prove unsuccessful, unless supported by certain rules of living. 



On this principle, many years experience, together with some hints I had from 

 Sir Hugh Palliser, the Captains Campbell, Wallis, and other intelligent officers, 

 enabled me to lay down, a plan by which all was to be conducted. The crew 

 were at 3 watches, except on some extraordinary occasions. By this means they 

 were not so much exposed to the weather as if they had been at watch and 

 watch : and they had generally dry clothes to shift themselves when they hap- 

 penetl to get wet. Care was also taken to expose them as little as possible. 

 Proper methods were employed to keep their persons, hammocks, bedding, 

 clothes, &c. constantly clean and dry. Equal pains were taken to keep the ship 

 clean and dry between decks. Once or twice a week she was aired with fires ; 

 and when this could not be done, she was smoked with gunpowder moistened 

 with vinegar or water. I had also frequently a fire made in an iron pot at the 

 bottom of the well, which greatly purified the air in the lower parts of the ship. 

 To this and cleanliness, as well in the ship as among the people, too great at- 

 tention cannot be paid ; the least neglect occasions a putrid, offensive smell 

 below, which nothing but fires will remove : and if these be not used in time, 



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