58 Re-appearance of Scurvy 



Aet. IV. — On the re-appearance of Scurvy in the Merchant Service, 

 by E. P. P. Bedford, Esq., F.B.G.S. 



[Bead 9th of October, 1867.] 



In the Lancet of the 7th of April, 1866, is the following passage : 



" There seems little reason to doubt, that a serious amount of 

 Scurvy exists in the Mercantile Navy, and that this amount has 

 a tendency rather to increase than diminish. The account given 

 by Mr. Leach, the resident Medical officer of the " Dreadnought," 

 the hospital which receives the largest number of Scurvy cases, 

 shows a steady gradual rise in the number admitted. Thus in 

 the last quarter of this year there were 39 cases, while in the 

 corresponding quarter of the last three years there were 22, 20, 

 and 15, respectively. 



Provincial reports of the disease are equally unsatisfactory- 

 one ship arrived lately at Bristol with a crew of 22, and 11 cases 

 of Scurvy ; another at Hull, with a crew of 28, and 12 cases of 

 Scurvy. North country ships have a discreditable reputation for 

 Scurvy as compared with London Ships." 



Eroin this time public attention in England has been directed 

 to the increase of Scurvy among Merchant seamen ; investigations 

 took place and measures were introduced into parliament having 

 regard to the health of seamen. 



Sydney being the sea port of New South Wales, many vessels 

 arriving here from long voyages — several of the colonists employed 

 as seamen — the merchants of Sydney being much engaged in 

 shipping interests, the health and well being of seamen is a 

 question here of practical importance, and should stir up the 

 duty imposed upon us, from higher considerations, to improve by 

 every means, the health of a body of men whose useful employ- 

 ment exposes them to special dangers. 



The disappearance of Scurvy from the British Navy is so nearly 

 complete that many naval surgeons have passed the whole period 

 of their service without being called upon to treat one case of 

 Scurvy. 



It is said to have been absent from the transportation service, 

 but this is not correct. From documents in my possession I find 

 that from October 1831, to August 1S36. there arrived in Tas- 

 mania, in summer months, 10 vessels containing 2336 convicts, of 

 whom 2 died of diarrhoea, and six of other diseases soon after 

 arrival ; that 2 in one ship had died of Scurvy, and 16 of other 

 diseases, during the voyages. In spring months, 11 vessels arrived 



