Observations on the Diseases of Seamen

by Sir Gilbert Blane

It is of great consequence that the purser should lay in a sufficient stock of clothing and bedding suited to the climate for which the ship is destined, in order that there may be a sufficient supply after having been on a distant station for a certain length of time. I have known men suffer the greatest inconvenience and hardship, and infectious diseases kept up, from the neglect of this.

The greatest evil connected with clothing is the infection generated by wearing it too long without shifting; for to this cause we have attributed the jail, hospital, or ship fever. The great importance of cleanliness appeared when we were treating of infection, from whence we may judge of what consequence it is that men should be provided with a shift of linen, as that part of the clothing which is in contact with the skin is most likely to harbour infection[83].

As clothing is not the gift of nature, being left to man’s own reason, it is subject to caprice, and thereby productive of inconvenience and disease. The necessity of it depends very much upon habit, like every thing else relating to the human body, and therefore sudden and unseasonable changes of apparel are very unsafe to health. It is also found that a partial exposure of the body is more pernicious than a general exposure. If I were writing for the more delicate part of the world, I should illustrate this by the danger of exposing the feet alone to cold or wet. It is seldom that seamen are susceptible to so great a degree, for their hardy and exposed life steels them against such impressions. But there is another circumstance which renders it of the utmost consequence to defend the feet against external injury. It frequently happens, that, without any visible symptoms of scurvy, the constitutions of seamen are such, that, upon the least scratch being received on the feet or legs, a large spreading incurable ulcer arises; which sometimes ends in the loss of a limb; but at any rate disables them from duty till a cure can be effected by the use of a fresh and vegetable diet, or a change of climate. Next to acute diseases and scurvy, this is the most destructive complaint incident to a sea life, particularly in a hot climate; and I have known great numbers of good men thereby lost to the service. It is, therefore, of the utmost consequence that men should not only be supplied with shoes, but be obliged to wear them, which is found to require a degree of compulsion; for in the West Indies it is observed that seamen always wish to go barefooted.

Since the first edition of this work was published, I have been favoured with several valuable remarks on this subject, by Captain Caldwell, an officer of great humanity and experience. Among other remarks, he observes, that the different articles of clothing supplied to sailors are, in general, too slight, and of too small a size, which renders them expensive and inconvenient to large men. The trowsers, he observes, should be much thicker, and larger, as the least shower goes through them; and, in a cold climate, those made of fear-nought[84], which do not cost more than the others, should also be allowed. What a situation are men in when topsails are reefing in the winter season while it rains, when cold and wet, with their trowsers sticking to them, (which would not be the case if they were of flannel) and it is not practicable that they should have change of clothing for every time they are obliged to be wet? Thick, double-milled caps are much wanted in bad weather to cover the head and ears. Dutch caps do not keep out the weather, and will not stay on the head. It is commonly remarked that the men who wear the thickest linen shirts are the most healthy.

Men, upon first entering into the service, are allowed the advance of two months wages, in order to provide necessaries: but this, inadequate as it is for a long voyage, is not extended to pressed men. It is also argued against making large stoppages in seamen’s wages; that, by diminishing what they have to receive when paid off, a discouragement is thereby given to the service. But as we see men deserting from men of war when several years wages are due to them, the most reasonable and effectual encouragement seems to be to render their lives as comfortable and healthy as possible.

But why might not most of the articles mentioned be supplied gratuitously? In favour of which Captain Caldwell makes use of an argument frequently inculcated in this work, viz. that so much advantage would accrue to Government by preserving the health and lives of men, and so much would be saved in hospitals, as would much more than reimburse the extraordinary expence[85].

CHAP. IV.

Of Exercise.

It commonly happens in a ship of war that a great proportion of the hands is landsmen; for, besides the men required to navigate the ship, a great number is necessary to fight the guns, as well as for other duties, and their health may be affected by the want of exercise.

It has been observed before, that one use of frequent reviews and musters in a numerous crew is, to call forth men that would otherwise be overlooked, to oblige them to come into the open air, to keep themselves clean, and to prevent them from indulging in filth and laziness. It is observed, that seamen are in general less subject to scurvy than marines and landsmen, which seems to be owing to the greater activity of their life and alacrity of their minds.