P R E S E R V
A T IO N
OF M A R I N
E R S .
tional munificence, and executed with the moft indefatigable labour,
and a noble exertion of knowledge, experience, and perseverance,
are the moft undeniable proofs o f this fpirit of emulation, in
this important bufinefs to mankind. In confequence o f it, that
great and able navigator, Captain C o o k , has communicated to the
world the method he.employed for the prefervation of the healths
and lives o f his ihip’s company, and its fuccefs. T h e Royal Society
has crowned his paper with the prefentation o f Sir Godfrey
•Copley’s golden medal, to teftify her approbation o f the excellent
jj^etbod propoled by him. T h e learned prefident o f the Society,
has, upon this occafion, illuftrated the method ufed by the navigator,
with that perfpicuity, learning, experience, and both medical
and natural knowledge, which are peculiar to him, and have
procured him the merited applaufe of the learned world. After
thefe publications it might feem fuperfluous.; to fay any thing
more on a fubjeft fo ably fet forth : however, as I have had frequent
opportunities of inyeftigating this Jubjefl: with care and attention,
and can give fome neceifary details on the preparation and ufe
•of the antifeptics ; and laftly, as I flatter myfelf not only to be able
to propofe fome material improvements .on many parts of this method,
but alfo to fuggeft Ibme important hints, which may lead to
f i l l greater, difcoveries .$ I thought it on the prefent occafion b y no
fuperfluous to publifh my obfervations and remarks on the
fame
means
fame fubjeft, hoping that they may in courfe o f time become ufeful p r e s e r v
a t i o n
and interefting- I am befides fo well perfuaded o f the candour, 0F]y[ARI_
humanity and zeal for encouraging every attempt which tends to We r s .
improve fcience, and to promote the benefit o f mankind both in
my friend Capt. C o o k and in the learned prefident of the Royal
Society, that I have not the leaft doubt o f being not only abfolved
by them, o f the charge o f envy or a delire o f rivallhip in the fame
career, but likewife o f being commended for being emulous o f becoming
ufeful to mankind and perhaps the occafion o f faving the
lives o f many ufeful and neceifary members o f fociety.
T h e moft common and at the fame time moft dreadful evil in-
fefting the crews o f Ihips fent out on long voyages, is the Se a -
S c u r v y j which according to the laft obfervations o f Dr-
M a c b r i d e , and thofe of Sir J o h n P r i n g l e is o f the putrid kind-
Some authors have affigned the fea-air to be one of its caufes, but
it is impoflible to make good this alfertion, fince people living near
the fea, or in fmalliflands furrounded by the fea and its air, enjoy
their health as well as thofe who have inland habitations. Salt
provifions contribute no doubt a great deal towards ftpreading this
difeafe in a Ihip, efpecially i f they have beep lying for a long fpace
o f time in fait and are become putrid ; as this muft accelerate its
fymptoms and bring on a general putrefcence of the whole habit of
the
f