P r e s e r - We come now to the water, which is one o f the moft Ample
o f M a r i - and moft neceflary elements j and which, i f become putrid and of-
n e r s . fenfjvej greatly increaies the fcene o f mifery, which opens upon
fo brave and lb ufeful a fet o f men as the iailors, who devote their
health and their lives for the defence of their country. W e ob-
ferved, that though ventilation takes off a great deal of' the offerr-
iive imeli o f the water, it remains however ill tailed, putrid and
very unwholefome. I have, by feveral experiments, found that
putrid- water contains a liver o f fulphur> and- as nothing quenches
more effectually and more fuddenly the fpreading effluvia o f the
liver of fulphur, and takes off its loathfome taile than quicklimo,
I would propofe that quicklime diifolved in water, ihould be
poured in fuch quantities into the putrid' water, as may - be fuffi-
cient to iupprefs both its bad taile and fmell. Th e proportion
cannot be afcertamed; as the degree o f putridity o f the water is various,
and mull o f courfe require either a greater or, lefs quantity.
The quicklime in an irritant makes the water potable, and in fome
meafure impregnates it with, fixed - air, which by the putrid fermentation
is-entirely gone oif. I f the water thus prepared be decanted
from the precipitate, it-will not only be palatable, but.like-
wife limpid and. clear. *-
The
*- Since the above was written, I have been informed, that the addition of limewater to
the frdh w?ter, intended, for the ufe of the people on board o f French lhips, has entirely prevented
637'
Th e fame limewater poured into the putrid bilge-water o f p r e s e r -
the pump-well, will in an inflant, precipitate its putrid par- OF m a r i -
ticles, and render the water inoffenfive; to which-- operation. NERS*
I would always add the rarefaction o f the air in the pump-well
by fire j and am füre that both remedies joined together, will not
only effectually hinder the effluvia from becoming noxious by their
effects,- but.alfo prevent the water from recovering its prutreicency
fo feon.
W e had'on -boardour ihip the roE of lemon and oranges-, which
has by no means been’ found to fucceed in obviating the effects o f
the feurvy; and' though ufed on purpofe by one or two men by
itfelf without the addition o f any other remedy,, our excellent
furgeon, Mr. P a t t o n , was.of opinion that.it. did not even Hop the
progrefs o f the feurvy.
Befides this preventative, we had the marmalade of carrots, which
confiiled o f the infpiflated juice o f carrots, extracted by boiling
and afterwards evaporated by fire to the confiilence of a fyrup;
M r . M u z e l - s t o s c h - of-Berlinj had recommended-this marmalade
to the Society for promoting Arts, Manufactures ;and Commerce 3
who referred the fame to the Board o f Admiralty, by whofe orders
feme o f it-was prepared, and given to the furgeons o f our ihipsj
in
vented its becoming putrid ; when the fame water, without thé addition o f limewater, grew
very putrid and intolerably offenlive.