406 Dr. Burnett's account of the effect of mercurial vapours 
and the copper bolts of the ship, were covered with the metal, 
the last to some extent within the wood ; a gold watch, gold 
and silver money kept in a drawer, and likewise some of the 
iron-work of the ship which had been kept bright, evidently 
showed the influence of the prevailing atmosphere, being in 
some places covered with quicksilver. 
In a communication with which Mr. Plowman, Surgeon of 
the Triumph, has obliged me, he states, that those who messed 
and slept on the orlop and lower decks, with the exception 
of the midshipmen, suffered equally, while those on the main 
or upper deck were not so severely affected : the men who 
lived and slept under the forecastle escaped with a slight 
affection of the gums. The only reasons which can be as- 
signed for the partial escape of the midshipmen, are, that the 
windsails were kept always in action, and that these Gentle- 
men were almost constantly on deck, or were more frequently 
employed on service out of the ship, in proportion to their 
numbers, than the men. 
Various opinions were entertained of the manner in which 
the systems of the sufferers were brought under the influence 
of the mercury. By some, it was supposed to have origi- 
nated from the use of the bread and other provisions, with 
which the mercury had mixed itself ; and to such an extent 
was this opinion carried, that I find, by reference to official 
documents in the Victualling office, seven thousand nine hun- 
dred and forty pounds of biscuit were condemned as un- 
serviceable from having quicksilver mixed with it. 
By others, amongst whom was Mr. Plowman, the Sur- 
geon, it was considered to have arisen from inhaling the 
mercurialized atmosphere ; and from the preceding details, I 
