Living in High Latitudes. 91 



these islands (an expedition generally lasting three years), 

 in order to save expense and room in purchasing and 

 stowing vegetable provision, compose half their crews of 

 natives of Kamtschatka, because these people are able to 

 preserve themselves from the scurvy with animal food only, 

 by abstaining from the use of salt.' 



'Lastly, in the excellent oration of Linnaeus, on the 

 advantages of travelling in one's own country, printed in 

 the third volume of the Amaenitates Academicae, it is 

 asserted '' that the Laplanders live without corn and wine, 

 without salt and every kind of artificial liquor, on water 

 and flesh alone, and food prepared from them ; and yet are 

 entirely free from the scurvy." ^ 



'When we compare the histories above recited, it is 

 impossible not to be immediately struck with these leading 

 circumstances, that those in whom the scurvy raged fed 

 upon salt provisions, and drank spirituous liquors ; whereas 

 those who escaped it, fed upon fresh animal food, or at 

 least preserved without salt, and drank water. ... 



• On the other hand it seems to be a fact, that several 

 of the Northern nations, whose diet is extremely putrid (as 

 before hinted with respect to the people of Kamtschatka), 

 are able to preserve themselves from the scurvy ; therefore, 

 putrid aliments alone will not necessarily induce it. On 

 the whole, on an attentive consideration of the facts which 

 have been recited, some of which are upon a pretty exten- 

 sive scale, I cannot but adopt the opinion that the use of 

 sea-salt is a very principal cause of the scurvy, and that a 



* ' In Lapplandia observabit homines absque Cerere et Baccho, absque sale 

 et potu omni artificiali, aqua tantum et came, et quae ab his piseparantur, 

 contentos vivere. 



* Quare Norlandi, ut plurimum, scorbuto sint infecti ; et cur Lappone?, 

 contra, hujus morbi prorsus expertes ? ' 



