SECT. V.
Of the Scurvy
If I was to write as much on that subject, as I have already written in this treatise, the whole would only amount to this, that the scurvy is a state of putrifying corruption in the living human body.
The causes of this disorder is a defective diet, contaminated air, and want of proper exercise.
In regard to the diet, salt provisions and foul water are the accessory means, which not only impoverishes the blood, but gives it a tendency to a putrescency, whereby it loses its spirit, the lymph its gelatinousness, and the crasamentous part its resinous consistency. Thence the serum becomes sharp and acrimonious; the lymphatic part in the blood unable to nourish the stamina of the solids; and the red crasamentous part becomes crumous, and void of its vivacity: and as the solids must in consequence suffer in proportion to the state of the blood, from whence they have their existence, and become maintained, it must follow also, that they degenerate into the same state of corruption: thence we find not only a universal lassitude and debility in the limbs, but gradually the smaller vessels become unable to circulate the corrupt humours, break, bleed, and even mortify of their own accord, without any other cause than the putrescent nature of their containing fluids.
Though the symptoms are in general too well known, not to be easily mistaken; yet I shall here describe this destructive disease in its various gradations.
When a patient first begins to be tainted with the scurvy, he feels a lassitude all over his body, and a peculiar proneness to indulgence and idleness; work becomes irksome; and neither has he strength, nor inclination, to do his work with the same chearfulness as before. He sleeps more in general, but his rest is for ever disturbed with heavy and melancholy dreams; and particularly of that nature, as for ever to be engaged in escaping from some sad danger, but unfortunately that his limbs are so remarkably heavy, that he cannot move them. With these and the like labour in vain phantoms his sleep is disturbed, till at length he awakes, and finds himself more fatigued than when he first went to rest. The mouth is always foul and slimy, and frequently attended with a disagreeable taint. The appetite is depraved, and the victuals sits very heavy on the stomach.
This is the first stage of the scurvy; and when a patient is sure of those symptoms, it is time some remedy should be used, in order to prevent the approaching evils; which gradually come on thus.
The gums begin to swell, though not very sore; and frequently bleed either on their own accord, or at the least touch of any thing that comes near them. The breath becomes very disagreeable, even to the patient himself. The teeth grow dark, brown or black, become loose, and the very jaw bone, together with the roots of the teeth are exposed and seem uncovered from the decayed gum.
Sometimes a scurfy itch ensues, and sometimes little spots appear. The body becomes remarkably weak, and sensibly falls away, and the colour of the skin gets a disagreeable tawny hew; which is most remarkable, together with other emaciated features in the patient’s countenance.
This is the second state, and now dissolution actually begins to take place.
The patient loses his strength sensibly, so as not to be able to be supported by his own limbs. Over his body variously appear red, scarlet, yellow, green, livid and black spots, of various magnitude; some of which will bleed on their own accord; others will break into malignant ulcers, and others again will mortify. The appetite fails; a flux frequently ensues; the urine will be thick and stinking; and the poor wretch gradually dies merely by putrefaction.
The scurvy has had many definitions, and has been divided into various classes. All the difference of the disorder is, that sometimes it is attended with a fever, only in some degrees, more in one habit, than in another; which may be owing either to the nature of the constitution itself, but principally depends on the climate the patient is in: to which I must not forget to add, that frequently the scurvy is complicated with other disorders. I could make many observations on this head, but, this perhaps would serve more to indulge myself than to benefit my reader.
I shall therefore suppose that I have said enough, to proceed to the cure; which I do with the more chearfulness, as I am happy in knowing it by experience to be not only easy, but efficacious.
The first time I ever experienced, and had it in my power to examine into the nature of the true scurvy, I was fortunate enough to discover so much of its corruptive quality, as to hit upon the true antidote; namely, the sacharine quality and acidity of vegetables; and upon this foundation I established my method of cure with success.
I shall not here enumerate the many experiments that I made in the course of these inquiries, but proceed to the result thereof, and the method to be observed.
In the first place, sugar is an article of more virtue, than what is in general known; and of so great a value to seamen, that he ought to esteem it as one of the greatest preservatives of his health. Next to this is vinegar, which is not only a resister of putrefaction, but has a coagulating, and condensing quality to the animal juices; whereby it not only consolidates the fluids without adding acrimony, but on the contrary, absorbs animal acrimony, and braces up the solids.
On the same principle, I have found dried malt, to be of great advantage in scorbutic cases; in which, both the saccharine and acidity of vegetables is contained even in a heightened degree,——This being premised, I proceed in the following manner:
When a man is found to have evident signs of the scurvy, let his drink be acidulated with one fourth, or third, &c. of good vinegar, or what is yet better, lemon juice, and well sweetened with sugar.
If there is malt on board, let a malt decoction, or temporary beer be made in the following manner:
No. XLVII
Take malt bruised, a pound, or three handfuls; sassafrass chips, a small handful; boil it in a gallon of water for an hour, and strain it off for use.
Let this be the constant drink, which in a short time will revive the already tainted habit. Onions, horse-raddish, and mustard, &c. such as will keep on board, should plentifully be made use of, and the pills No. [X]. should be taken every twenty-four hours, at a time when going to rest.
This method will soon bring the patient to health again, particularly if in the first stage; but when it is come to the second degree, or in a state of rapid decay, more effectual and immediate means must be taken.
Here then I shall present the method, which by experience I know to be efficacious.
No. XLIX
Take a large tub, (a butt sawed in two) in which place a stool, or something to sit on; Then let the patient be stript naked and seated in the tub; pour into the bottom of the vessel about one gallon of good vinegar; put a blanket all over the patient, and the tub, so that the whole is covered like a hut. Then heat a large poker; which put into the vinegar in order to rise a steam; which continue for about a quarter, or half an hour, or longer, according to the circumstances.
If the patient is very scorbutic, it should be repeated three times a day, or even oftener, for the effect of this steam-bath is so powerful, that I have with pleasure seen the patient when not able to crawl to the tub; he has been so revived by the operation, as to come out of his own accord quite refreshed.
In the mean time the elixir of iron as is described No. [XXVIII]. should be taken; the mouth often washed with vinegar, lemon juice, or rather with the elixir of the iron, and sugar, should be both plentifully used in the drink, and with the victuals.
Salt provisions should be avoided as much as possible, or else previously well deprived of its salt.
By this method the scurvy may not only be prevented at sea, but even cured in the most inveterate degree.
If however there is an opportunity for the patient to come on shore, it will greatly facilitate his cure; though he should reap no other benefit than the exhalations of the earth in the warmth of the day: and I have with astonishment seen patients devour vegetables in large quantities, and mended surprizingly, even in a few hours; so powerful an antidote is the vegetable effluvia to an animal putrescency.
To conclude, I have only this to observe, that the scurvy is principally owing to defaults with respect to provisions, and the customary way of living in ships in general; and such as might be much amended, both with respect to conveniency, wholesomeness, and expence.
I speak this from long experience, from the many observations I have made, and the good success that have attended my improvements, when it has been in my power to put them in execution. I have many things to offer with respect to provisions at sea; but as that is too extensive to be inserted in this volume, I shall treat of it distinctly. In the mean time give me leave to close these lectures: and being conscious that truth and utility has guided my endeavours through the whole, I lay down my pen for this time, with the pleasing reflection, that I have advanced one step farther in the performance of my duty, and in answering the end of my existence.
FINIS.
