Observations on the Diseases of Seamen

by Sir Gilbert Blane

Thus we see that cleanliness and discipline are the indispensable and fundamental means of health, without which every other advantage and precaution is thrown away. Government never bestowed more attention and expence upon the victualling of the navy than during the late war; but it would be to little purpose to provide the most nourishing and antiscorbutic diet, the most wholesome and cordial wines, the most efficacious remedies, and the most skilful physicians and surgeons, if the men are not constrained to keep their persons sweet, their clothing and bedding clean, and their berths airy and dry. It is, therefore, upon officers more than any others that the health of the fleet depends; and I should be excused in the frequent mention I make of this, were it known how often I have been the witness of the fatal effects of the neglect of these rules.

3. Means of eradicating Infection.

When, from a neglect of the means above mentioned, an infectious fever comes actually to prevail, and the infection, perhaps, adheres obstinately to the ship in spite of cleanliness, good air, and diet, and all the other means, which, if employed in due time, would have prevented it, then some measures are to be taken for eradicating this subtile poison.

The first step towards this is, to prevent the disease from spreading, and this is done by separating the sick from the healthy, and cutting off all intercourse as much as possible. For this end, it is necessary to appropriate a particular berth to contagious complaints, and not only to prevent the idle visits of men in health, but to discover and separate the persons affected with such complaints as soon as possible, both to prevent them from being caught by others, and because recent complaints are most manageable and curable. Officers might be very useful in making an early discovery of complaints, by observing those who droop and look ill in the course of duty; for seamen think it unmanly to complain, and have an aversion to be put on the sick list. I have heard of a method practised in some ships, of keeping a book on the quarter deck for the officer to mark the names of such men as might look ill, or might be missed from duty upon calling the roll, in order to afford the surgeon a means of finding out those who should be the objects of his care.

Those whose profession it is to superintend the health of the ship, would find it for their ease and interest, and should consider it as their duty, to walk over the different decks once a day, or every other day, in order to make an early discovery of those who may be taken ill. Though I have laid great stress on the duty of the commander, as the proper guardian of health, yet his assiduity will not avail unless the surgeon also does his part, by such acts of attention as I have mentioned, joined to skill in his profession.

Surgeons are, perhaps, more regarded in our service than in that of other nations; but it would be for the public benefit if they were still more respected and encouraged. To men of liberal education and sentiments, as surgeons ought to be, and generally are, the most effectual inducements for them to do their duty are flattering attentions, and a certain degree of estimation in the eyes of their officers. Liberality of manners, on the part of superiors, is the most likely means of encouraging a conscientious performance of duty in this profession; for though strict and distant behaviour may operate upon the minds of those whose functions are merely mechanical, how can it infuse that tender attention to human sufferings, and that sense of duty, which may induce a man entrusted with the health and lives of his fellow creatures to act his part with propriety and effect?

In order to prevent sickness from spreading, it is not sufficient to cut off all personal intercourse. The clothes of men are as dangerous a vehicle of infection as their persons; and it should be a strict and invariable rule in case of death from fever, flux, or small pox, to throw overboard with the body every article of clothing and bedding belonging to it.

Upon the same principle, in case of recovery from any contagious disease, as it would be too great a waste to destroy the clothes and beds, they should be smoked, and then scrubbed or washed before the men join their messes and return to duty. This precaution is the more necessary, as infection in a ship is extremely apt to be communicated by bedding, from the custom of stowing the hammocks in the netting, by which they are brought in contact with each other. This, however, is an excellent custom, as it not only clears the ship below, and serves to form a barricade on the gunwale, but tends to air the bedding; and this salutary effect should not be prevented, except in case of rain, by the coverings, called hammock-cloths, by the use of which utility is evidently sacrificed to an excess of neatness.

It sometimes happens that the number of sick in a ship is so great, that it is not possible to take proper and effectual measures on board for stopping the progress of disease. But when she can be cleared of the sick by sending them to an hospital, no pains should be spared to extirpate the remaining seeds of infection.

For this purpose, let their clothing and bedding be sent along with them; let their hammocks, utensils, and whatever else they leave behind, be smoked, and either scrubbed or washed before they are used by other men, or mixed with the ship’s stores; let the decks, sides, and beams of their berths, be well washed, scraped, smoked, and dried by fire; then let them be sprinkled with hot vinegar, and, finally, white-washed all over with quick lime.