APPENDIX. 
537 
Medical Statistics of the Crew of the U. S. Frigate Potomac, during a 
Voyage round the World, ly J. M. Foltz, M. D., Assistant-Surgeon, 
u/s. Navy. , 
A concise statistical account of the health of the crew of the U.S. 
frigate Potomac/consisting of five hundred individuals, during a period 
of three years— in which time she performed a voyage of circumnaviga- 
tion, and passed through every variety of chmate, from 40° of north lati- 
tude to 57° south latitude, having spent twenty months between the tropics, 
and five months in the most unhealthy parts of the East Indies— exhibiting 
the manner in which our crew were affected by the change of climate and 
the long confinement on board ship, the most prevalent diseases, with a 
few brief hints on prevention and modes of treatment, — cannot but be 
interesting to the philosopher and physician, and may prove of utility to 
some future navigators. The following observations, extracted from my 
journals and notes taken at the time, are submitted, with a confidence in 
their correctness. 
I joined the Potomac at the navy-yard, Washington, and was the first 
medical officer that reported for duty,, on the 22d of , May, 1831 ; at that 
time there were two hundred of the crew on board ship, of whom twenty- 
four were on the sick-hst. On the 3d of June the ship was hauled off to 
Greenleaf Point, a distance of two miles from the navy-yard, where her 
armament and stores were received on board. Throughout the day the 
crew were exposed to a very hot sun for the season, and were obhged to 
use the river water, of which they drank copiously. The sick-hst in con- 
sequence increased from twenty-two to thirty-six in one day. The men 
were seized with cholera-morbus, accompanied with violent spasms, which 
in several robust young men were so severe as to require copious vene- 
section. The submur. hydrarg. et opii (calomel and opium), and submur. 
hydrarg. etpulv. Doveri (calomel and Dover's powder), were administered 
with the most happy results. Gn stating my opinion of the cause of the 
illness to Mr. Shubrick, the commanding officer, who also attributed it to 
the same source, water, was brought from shore for the use of the ship's 
company ; after which there were no new cases. The river water at this 
season contains a large quantity of vegetable and animal matter in a state of 
decomposition, and is unfit for use until after it has been kept for some time. 
On the 15th of June we left Washington for Hampton Roads, where 
we arrived on the 22d. The change from a fresh water river to the salt 
water materially improved the health of the crew ; several cases of vernal 
intermittents were speedily cured ; but as we were frequently receiving 
draughts of men, who came on board after the most violent debauchery 
and dissipation, the sick-hst continued large, having ari average daily of 
twenty-three, during twenty-four days while we remained at Norfolk. On 
the 4th of July, our boatswain, set. tlrirty-six, went on shore to congratu- 
late himself on his having received a warrant, and was brought on board 
after an absence of three days, labouring under maiiia a potu (delirium 
from intemperance), and haemoptysis (bleeding from the lungs), which put 
a period to his existence in five days, falhng a victim to intemperance. 
On the 16th of July sailed for New-York, with three hundred and fifty 
