TREATMENT OF SCURVY. 
325 
actual thaw. On the hlack planking of the brig's 
quarter, in full sun glare, the snow began to move, 
and fell, leaving a moist stain. This was either evap. 
orated or frozen instantly ; but still it had been there, 
unequivocal moisture. A sledge, too, alongside the 
vessel, kept laden to meet emergencies, with a black 
felt cover, gave on its southern side a warm impres- 
sion to the unmittened hand ; and several drops of 
water rolled from its mounting of snow, and formed 
in minute icicles. 
With, these cheering signs of returning warmth 
came a sensible improvement in my cases of scurvy. 
I ascribed it in a great degree to the free use of saur- 
kraut and lime-juice, and to the constant exercise 
which was enforced as part of our sanitary discipline. 
But I attributed it also to the employment of hydro- 
chloric acid, applied externally with friction, and taken 
internally as a tonic. The idea of this remedy, hith- 
erto, so far as I know, unused in scurvy, occurred to 
me from its effects in cachectic cases of mercurial 
syphilis. I am, I fear, heterodox almost to infidelity 
as to the direct action of remedies, and rarely allow 
myself to claim a sequence as a result ; but, accord- 
ing to the accepted dialectics of the profession, the 
Acid. chloroJiyd. dilut, may be recommended as singu- 
larly adapted to certain stages of scorbutus. 
The great difficulty that every one has encountered 
in treating this disease is in the reluctance of the pa- 
tient to rouse himself so as to excite the system by 
cheerful, glowing exercise, and in the case of seamen, 
to control their diet. My ingenuity was often taxed 
for expedients to counteract these predispositions. 
Some that I resorted to were ludicrous enough. 
James Stewart, with purpuric blotches and a stiff 
