MS
IF
2fi OF THE LABORIOUS, THE SEDENTARY,
to their lives. Thus intemperance, a»d not the climate, is often thecause why so many of our brave sailors die on foreign coasts. Suchpeople ought not to live too low; but they will find moderation thebest defence against fevers and many other maladies.
Sailors, when on duty/cannot avoid sometimes getting wet. Whenthis happens, they should change their clothes as soon as they are re-lieved, and take every method to restore theperspiration. They shouldnot, in this case, make too free with spirits or otherstrong liquors,but should rather drink them diluted with warm water, and goim-mediately to bed, where a sound sleep and a gentle sweat would setall to rights.
But the health of sailors suffer most from unwholesome food.The constant use of salted provisions vitiates the humours, and oc-casions the scurvy, and other obstinate maladies. It is no easy mat-ter to prevent this disease in long voyages; yet we cannot help think,nig, that much might be done towards affecting so desirable an endswere due pains bestowed for that purpose. For example, variousloots, greens, and fruits, might be kept a long time at sea, as onions,potatoes, cabbages, lemons, oranges, tamarinds, apples, &c. Whenfruits cannot be kept, the juices of them, cither fresh or fermented,may. With these all the drink, and even the food of the ship's com-pany, ought to be acidulated in long voyages.
Stale bread and beer likewise contribute to vitiate the humours.Flour will keep for a long time on beard, of which fresh bread mightfrequently be made. Malt too might be kept, and infused with boil-ing water at any time. This liquor, when drank even in form of wort,is very wholesome, and is found to bean antidote against the scurvySmall wines and cyder might likewise be plentifully laid in; andshould they turn sour, they would still be useful as vinegar. Vine-gar is a great antidote against diseases, and should be used by all tra-vellers, especially at sea. It may either be mixed with the waterthey drink, or taken in their food.
Such animals as can be kept alive ought likewise to be carried onboard, as hens, ducks, pigs, &c. Fresh broths made of portablesoup, and puddings made of pease or other vegetables, ought to beused plentifully. Many other things will readily occur to people con-versant in these matters, which would tend to preserve the health ofthat brave and useful set of men.
The principal means employed with remarkable success by ourcelebrated circumnavigator, Captain Cooke, were strict attention tocleanliness, procuring abundance of vegetablealimentand fresh pro-visions, especially good water. In dry weather his people aired theirhammocks, and were allowed at all times a sufficient time for rest.
We have reason to believe, if due attention were paid to the diet,air, clothing, and above all things to the cleanliness of sea-faringpeople, they would be the most healthy set of men in the world ; butwhen these are neglected, the very reverse will happen.
The best medical antidote that we can recommend to sailors or soldiers on foreign coasts, especially where dampness prevails, is thePeruvian bark. This will offer- prevent fevers, and other fatal di»-