In the Merchant Service. 63 



which, has been kept some time on board. Of this essential 

 article we were never at an allowance, but had always abundance 

 for every necessary purpose. 



I am convinced that with plenty of fresh water, and a close 

 attention to cleanliness, a ship's company will seldom be much 

 affected with the Scurvy, though they should not be provided 

 with any of the antiscorbutics before mentioned." 



In a voyage of three years and eighteen days through all cli- 

 mates, only one man died from disease and that without any 

 mixture of Scurvy. 



In fact, Cook, in his paper of 1776, had not only shewn the 

 way by precept, but he had followed it out in practice ; his convic- 

 tion has been fully borne out by the results in the transportation 

 service, and the contrasts of the English and French expeditions 

 to the south, also strongly prove the soundness of his views, the 

 noblest proof of his correctness is the present state of the British 

 navy. 



Thus, the man to whose energy and enterprise England owes 

 the possession of these colonies, is now speaking to us in words 

 of wisdom and warning for the benefit of our commerce and our 

 seamen, in words that require grave attention at this time. 



To remove the cause of Scurvy, have vegetables ; in their 

 absence, or where the people have vegetables, follow out strictly 

 Cook's plan for preserving the health of seamen. 



Vegetables had only gradually, from Henry the Eight's time, be- 

 come used in England ; and it is no doubt to the greater considera- 

 tion which had been bestowed upon meat as part of the ration, that 

 the absence of vegetables as the sole cause of Scurvy was over- 

 looked ; and it required the numerous instances I have referred 

 to, of Scurvy arising where no salt provisions were used to fix 

 attention properly to the fact. 



I have alluded to the breaking out of Scurvy at Victoria, in 

 the Cape of G-ood Hope, where fresh rations were issued, but no 

 vegetables. Dr. Murray, who was then the principal medical 

 officer on that station, forwarded a report of his own with enclo- 

 sures for medical officers under his orders ; these reports contain 

 not only an interesting account of Scurvy, under the peculiar 

 circumstances in which it took place, but Dr. Murray had formed 

 some theoretical views as to the nature of Scurvy ; and at this 

 station a new treatment for Scurvy was adopted — instead of high 

 feeding with meat, and the use of stimulants, all stimulants were 

 withheld, and bleeding, purgatives, light diet, with vegetables, 

 were given, and with good results. 



I can speak personally of this system of treating Scurvy, which 

 depends for its success on giving that food, which having been 

 withheld, had caused the disease. It is interesting in shewing 

 that food in which but little nitrogen is given is best suited to 



