SHIPS’ NAMESSCURVY.WOUNDS.
FMDHFMDH
* Formidable050003700
Barfleur6300103786
Prince George070001430
* Duke010006020
* Namur850202500
Royal Oak1101054515
Alfred15140203000
Montagu220002550
* Valiant§00003700
Monarch010103321
* Warrior000002000
Centaur5150001400
* Magnificent7160002000
Bedford1100001740
Ajax000003015
Canada180011200
Resolution000001920
* Hercules0120201800
Russel010042931
* Fame072011220
Torbay320002530
Princessa000001920
* Conqueror10§0002320
* Arrogant4100001100
* Marlborough060001611
* Yarmouth330003320
Belliqueux030001000
Prince William518001000
* Repulse32000910
St. Albans00000710
* Agamemnon000002370
* Prothée000002420
America200012720
* Anson110001300
* Nonsuch1825060200
Alcide700001503
Ramillies§303
Nymph00000000
Flora00000000
Total10320821888106032

N. B. The Ships marked thus, *, came from England in February and March, 1782.

All the Ships named in the Table were in the Engagements in April, except the Ramillies and the two Frigates.

In the Spaces marked thus, §, no Return was made.

Might not this extraordinary degree of health have also been owing, in part, to the effects of success upon the spirits of the men? It is related[13], that, when the fleet under Admiral Matthews was off Toulon, in daily expectation for some time of engaging the combined fleet of France and Spain, there was a general stop put to the progress of disease, particularly of the scurvy, from the influence of that generous flow of spirits, with which the prospect of battle inspires British seamen. But if the mere expectation and ardour of a battle, without any happy event, could have such a sensible effect, what must have been the effect of the exultation of VICTORY, a victory in which the naval glory of our country was revived and retrieved, after a series of misfortunes and disgraces, which had well nigh extinguished the national pride in every department of service! The plain and honest, though unthinking seaman, is not less affected by this than the more enlightened lover of his country. Even the invalids at the hospital demonstrated their joy, upon hearing of this victory, by hoisting shreds of coloured cloth on their crutches.

It would appear, that there is something in situations of exertion and danger, which infuses a sort of preternatural vigour. When the mind is interested and agitated by active and generous affections, the body forgets its wants and feelings, and is capable of a degree of labour and exertion, which it could not undergo in cold blood. The quantity of muscular action employed in fighting at a great gun for a few hours, is perhaps more that what is commonly employed in a week in the ordinary course of life, and though performed in the midst of heat and smoke, and generally with the want of food and drink, yet the powers of nature are not exhausted nor overstrained; even the smart of wounds is not felt; and the future health of those who survive unhurt by external violence is so far from being injured, that it is sometimes mended by this violent, but salutary agitation.

The loss in action, and the number of mortal wounds, were not so great as might have been expected in a battle continued for a whole day. This advantage was owing to the superiority of our fire, as well as to the closeness of the fight, of which the Commander in Chief set the illustrious example, by penetrating the enemy’s line with his own ship; a bold and singular effort which first decided the event of the day. When ships in action are opposed to each other at a small distance, the velocity of cannon balls is so great, that in penetrating a ship’s side, few or no splinters are torn off; and by these more men are commonly killed and wounded, than by the ball itself. For the same reason, a close shot does less damage also to the ship itself, than a distant one; for a quick-flying ball makes an aperture less than its own diameter, whereas a spent one produces innumerable deadly splinters, at the same time shivering the object it strikes, and making wide and extensive rents in it. The proportion of the wounded to the killed, is also greater in distant, than in close fight, on account of the great number of small splinters; and we have an experimental proof of this, in comparing the action in Fort Royal Bay in April 1781, with this near Dominica in April 1782. In the former, the enemy having kept far to windward, and engaged at a great distance, the proportion of the wounded to the killed was considerably more than four to one[14]; whereas in the latter, where the greater part of the battle was close, the proportion of the wounded to the killed, was little more than three to one[15].

Though it is a remark not belonging to a medical work, yet it may be observed, that the greatest advantage that arose to us from close action was, that the fire of the enemy was thereby silenced; for the advantages would be mutual and equal, on the supposition, that the French, in such a situation, were to keep the deck, and stand to their guns equally well with the British seamen.

It appears, by examining the table, that the ships in which the fevers chiefly prevailed this month, were those that came last from England, and that those in which the fluxes prevailed most were chiefly of the squadron we found on the station, namely, the Canada, Resolution, and Prince William. The latter however recovered greatly in the course of this month. Some of the Ships that arrived last from England, namely, the Arrogant, Prothée, and Anson, were also considerably afflicted with fluxes, but they were of an extremely mild kind; and the small number of deaths from this disease in comparison with those from fevers, is a proof of a former observation, that this is the safest form in which an acute disease can shew itself. This small degree of mortality was also owing to the judicious method of treating it which was in general practised throughout the fleet; and it is but justice to the medical gentlemen to say, that they shewed on this, as well as every other occasion, great skill and attention in the treatment of the sick and wounded.

The sum total of fevers and fluxes that have been put on the list this month, is much the same as that of the preceding month; but the proportion of fluxes in April is much greater.