668 Dr. de mertans’s Obfervations 
them more fubjedt to the fcurvy than the people of 
fafhion, or thofe who live at their eafe ; a conftant nfe of 
meat or filh that is fait (for they efteem neither fo much 
when they are frefh) much more brandy, filth and damp 
in their houfes, lefs change of cloaths or linen. 
I was many years making thefe obfervations, and in- 
quiring what it was that could preferve them from the 
fcurvy, which, on fo many accounts, they ought to have 
been more fubject to than the others. It appeared to me 
that, exclufive of the daily ufe of the four cabbage, which 
I confider as the moft powerful of all prefervatives, they 
were indebted for their fafety to the great quantity of 
raw greens, fuch as onions, leeks, raddifhes, turnips, peas 
in the pod, and others, which they eat. The berries of 
Vaccinium, with others much refembling them, called 
kloukna, 
qui devroient rendre ceux cy plus fujets au fcorbut que les nobles et les gens 
aifes: prefque toujours de la viande ou du poifFon fale (its ne font meme pas tant 
de cas de l’une et de l’autre quand ils font frais) beaucoup plus d’eau de vie, la 
mal proprete et Hiumidite de leurs maifons, ie changement plus rare de linge et 
d’habits. 
Je fus quelques annees a faire ces obfervations et a chercher ce qui pouvoit 
principalement les preferver du fcorbut, dont par tant de raifons ils auroient du 
etre attaques preferablement aux autres: il me parut qu’ outre Fufage journalier 
des choux aigres que je regarde comme le plus puilfant prefervatif du fcorbut, ils 
en etoient redevables a ce qu’ils mangent quantite de legumes cruds; oignons, 
porreaux, radis, raves, navets, pois avec leurs goulfes. Les bayes du Vacci- 
nium 5 
