[ 622 ] 
XXIX. Part of a Letter from Matthew Guthrie, M. D. of 
Peterfburgh, to Dr. Prieftley, F.R.S. on the Antifep- 
tic Regimen of the Natives of Ruflia. 
Rea<1 1 EADING the other day the elegant 
great merit of Captain cook, for which old Rome would 
have loaded his fhip with civic crowns, one part of the 
learned prefident’s difcourfe drew my attention in parti- 
cular, as it regarded this country, and touched upon a 
fubjedt which I have long paid attention to, viz. the an- 
tifeptic regimen which nature has dictated to the pea- 
fants of this empire. Nothing feems clearer to me than 
that, if nature had not taught thefe people habits, and 
given them a tafte which galloping travellers treat with 
contempt, they mull undoubtedly have funk under the 
fcurvy, as they are, for the greateft part of the year, ex- 
pofed to the influence of thofe pre-difpofing caufes to 
putrid complaints that make the body of the Greenland 
feaman livid; yet under all thefe difadvantages fuch 
feems to be the efficacy of the regimen they obferve, 
that putrid difeafes are Grangers to their huts, and the 
oration of Sir john pringle, on the 
3 
Ruffian 
