July, 1859. DEATH FROM SCURVY. 317 



worse state ttian I expected. He readied the 

 ship on the 14th, unable to walk, or even stand 

 without assistance ; but already he was begin- 

 ning to amend, and was in excellent spirits. 

 Christian had shot several ducks, which, with 

 preserved potato, milk, strong ale, and lemon- 

 juice, completed a very respectable dietary for a 

 scurvy-stricken patient. All the rest were tole- 

 rably well ; slight traces only of scurvy in two 

 or three of the men. The ship was as clean 

 and trim as I could expect, and all had well 

 and cheerfully performed their duties during 

 my absence ; hardly any game had been shot, 

 except one bear. 



The Doctor now acquainted me with the death 

 of Thomas Blackwell, ship's steward, which oc- 

 curred only five days previously, and was occa- 

 sioned by scurvy. This man had scurvy when 

 I left the ship in April, and no means were left 

 untried by the Doctor to promote his recovery 

 and rally his desponding energies ; but his mind, 

 unsustained by hope, lost all energy, and at last 

 he had to be forcibly taken upon deck for fresh 

 air. For months past the ship's spirits, had been 

 of necessity removed from under his control. 



When too late his shipmates made it known 

 that he had a disHke to preserved meats, and 

 had lived the whole winter upon salt pork ! He 



