60 Re-appearance of Scurvy 



Froin the most severe and best known examples taking place 

 in Fleets, it was thought that salt provisions was the chief, if not 

 entire, cause of Scurvy. 



This opinion was not held from the time of of Lind, Cook, and 

 Blake, but before their time, and since in the popular mind, the 

 opinion was that salt provisions caused Scurvy. 



In 183<i '7 and '8, Scurvy occurred in several gaols from the 

 want of vegetables, and in 1836 it occurred among the troops at 

 Adelaide, at the Cape of Grood Hope. 



In 1847 '8, and '9, it shewed itself in various parts of England, 

 Scotland, and Ireland, depending for its cause on the potato 

 blight. 



In all these instances the sufferers had fresh provisions, but 

 they had few, and in most instances, no vegetables, and their diet 

 in other respects often inferior. 



The above is but a sketch of the ravages produced by this disease, 

 in its more marked forms, exhibiting those symptoms so character- 

 istic of this complaint, and which are described in Anson's " Voy- 

 age round the World" ; but it is not alone in these distinct cases 

 that deaths and incapacity are produced, but in obscure forms, 

 and by affecting internal organs, its victims have been numerous, 

 and there has been, and no doubt now is, great destruction of 

 health, in consequence of this insidious disease. Therefore 

 the cause which produces Scurvy should be widely known, and 

 the means of prevention not oniy known, but they should be 

 carried out in every merchant vessel as completely as in a man-of- 

 war. 



In ships of war there are large numbers of men together, the 

 diseases that take place among them are known to the authorities, 

 and therefore the appearance and spreac 1 of Scurvy among them 

 is not only seen but more easily remedied. 



In merchant vessels the number of men is small, and this in 

 fact conduces to their safety, but the amount of disability from 

 illness, and deaths from Scurvy, is not easily ascertained. 



There can be no doubt but that the absence of vegetables is 

 the cause of Scurvy. 



The best means of prevention is vegetables — fresh if possible — 

 or sour krout, pickled onions, lime juice, and such articles of diet. 



With a proper supply and use of these articles, Scurvy would 

 never occur— whatever other form of disease migh attack a crew. 



The account I have given of Scurvy among the convicts, though 

 it shews that it prevailed, and to a considerable extent, yet, it was 

 mild in its effects compared with the history of the navy one 

 hundred years ago. 



There is a circumstance connected with the convict service, 

 which is deserving of notice. 



