SOLDIERS, SAILORS, &c.

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much pains can never be bestowed in pointing out the means ofpreserving their health and lives.

One great source of the diseases of sea-faring people is excess.When they get on shore, after having been long at sea, withoutregard to the climate, or their own constitutions, they plungeheadlong into all manner of riot, and often persist till a fever putsan end to their lives. Thus intemperance, and not the climate, isoften the cause why so many of our brave sailors die on foreigncoasts. Such people ought not to live too low ; but they willfind moderation the best defence against fevers and many othermaladies.

Sailors, when on duty, cannot avoid sometimes getting wet.When this happens, they should change their clothes as soon asthey are relieved, and take every method to restore the perspira-tion. They should not, in this case, make too free with spirits orother strong liquors, but should rather drink them diluted withwarm water, and go immediately to bed, where a sound sleep anda gentle sweat would set all to rights.

But the health of sailors suffers most from unwholesome food.The constant use of salted provisions inflames their humours, andoccasions the scurvy, and other obstinate maladies. It is no easymatter to prevent this disease in long voyages •, yet we cannot helpthinking that much might be done towards effecting so desirablean end, were due pains bestowed for that purpose. For example,various roots, greens, and fruits, might be kept a long time at sea,as onions., potatoes, cabbages, lemons, oranges, tamarinds, apples,«fcc. When fruits cannot be kept, the juices of them, either freshor fermenfed, may. With these all the drink, and even the food,of the ship's company ought to be acidulated in long voyages.

Stale bread and beer likewise contribute to vitiate the humours.Flour will keep a long time on board, of which fresh bread mightfrequently be made. Malt too might be kept, and infused withboiling water at any time. This liquor, when drank even in formof wort, is very wholesome, and is found to be an antidote againstthe scurvy. Small wines and cider might likewise be plentifullylaid in ; and should they turn sour, they would still be useful asvinegar. Vinegar is a great antidote against diseases, and shouldbe used by all travellers, especially at sea. It may either be mix-ed with the water they drink, or taken in their food.

Such animals as can be kept alive, ought likewise to be carriedon board, as hens, ducks, pigs, &c. Fresh broths made of port-able soup, and puddings made of peas or other vegetables, oughtto be used plentifully. Many other things will readily occur topeople conversant in those matters, which would tend to preservethe health of that brave and useful set of men.*

We have reason to believe, if due attention were paid to the

* Our countryman, the celebrated Captain Cook, has shown how far, by proper careand attention, the diseases formerly so fatal to seamen may be prevented. In a voy-age of three years and eighteen days, during which he was exposed to every climate,from the 52 deg. north to the 71 deg. of south latitude, of one hundred and eigh-teen men, composing the ship's company, he lost only one, who died of phthisis pul-monale. The principal n.eans he used were, to preserve a strict attention to cleanli-ness, to procure abundance of vegetables and fresh provisions, especially good water,aud to allow his people sufficient time for rest.