124 



WRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 



" All that has been mentioned by the few writers who have 

 seen the calenture^ proves clearly that it is not, as many physi- 

 cians pretend, the consequence of a sun-blast ; the nightly period 

 of its invasion, and the absence of exterior signs of insolation, to- 

 tally upset this vulgar hypothesis. Every circumstance combined, 

 from facts remarked, concur in proving that the calenture pro- 

 ceeds from excessive, permanent heat, which inflaming the atmos- 

 phere, is concentrated between the ship's decks. The scuttles 

 being shut during the night, and the air not circulating, it soon 

 becomes corrupted, from animal emanations and breathing, in a 

 degree of temperature the torrid zone renders more injurious ; the 

 blood, ah'eady too highly rarified from the effects of the climate, 

 is carried in abundance to the head, and, injuring the cerebral 

 nerves, at the same time that they are excited by the foulness of 

 exhausted vital air, naturally gives to this frenetic delirium." 



The excessive heat of the tropics powerfully aggravated our in- 

 sanity. It is impossible to imagine how the circulation is accele- 

 rated, when one is exposed to the sun under the equator. I had 

 intolerable headaches ; I could scarcely master my motions ; and 

 to make use of a common expression, my blood was boiling in my 

 veins. My companions were all attacked with this irritation ; and 

 every one wanted to give vent to his rage and despair. 



The day being pretty fine, tranquillity reigned among us ; some 

 few were still delirious, but not furious. A mechanic called Li- 

 normand, who came on purpose from Paris to make one of the 

 expedition, thinking himself still in the capital, said to one Laval- 

 lette, " Allez chez le marchand deviu, que vous voyez au coin, 

 pour j[>re'parer un litre ; je vous suis he then threw himself 

 into the sea, thinking to get to the house he imagined in view. 

 Night came on, but I felt my situation less than during the two 

 preceding ; and I was less tormented with the crowd of visions 

 that troubled my mind. However, I was always fancying myself 

 on board the frigate. The sun now shone on us for the third 

 time, presenting on one side the boundless ocean, and on the 

 other the burning atmosphere of the desert of Sahara ; though 

 there was now no hope but in putting the speediest end to an ex- 

 istence whose last moments could be only a succession of the cru- 

 dest sufferings. Above all, the want of provisions forced us to 

 complain. When I was most cruelly affected with hunger, my 

 imagination was disturbed the most, and I believe the least obsta- 



