The subject of the preceding remarks has been the prevention of diseases and it has appeared that the means of this are not so much in the province of the medical profession as of those who are entrusted with the direction of the navy in a civil or military capacity; and that with regard to cure and recovery also, a great deal depends upon them, by their having it in their power to make a suitable provision of proper diet and cordials. The great importance of the subject will plead my excuse for again calling to mind, that such attentions are not only dictated by humanity, but would be the greatest wisdom in an œconomical and national light, considering how expensive it is to replace men and to support invalids, not to mention that it is upon the health and lives of men that every public exertion essentially depends, and upon which may depend not only the character of officers, but the national character in the day of battle.
It must be confessed, that though there is still room for improvement, the navy is now on a better footing with regard to the health and comfort of seamen than it appears to have been in former times. The victuals were in general in the late war of excellent quality; the civil branch has shewn in many instances a readiness to adopt the means and to furnish the articles that were recommended for the health of the men[86]; and most of the commanders whom I have the honour to know are humane, attentive, and intelligent.
To conclude; there is no situation of life in which there is room for more virtues, more conduct and address, than that of a sea officer. The men are thrown upon his humanity and attention in more views than one: they are subject to a more arbitrary exertion of power than the constitution of the date authorities in civil life, Englishmen giving up into his hands, from considerations of public expediency, that which they hold most dear, and of which they are most jealous, their LIBERTY. It is the character of seamen to be thoughtless and neglectful of their own interest and welfare, requiring to be tended like children; but from their bravery, utility, and other good qualities, they seem entitled to a degree of parental tenderness and attention from the state they protect and the officers they obey.
APPENDIX TO PART II.
In order to exhibit a concise view of the most material observations contained in this part of the Work, a Memorial, delivered to the Board of Admiralty in October, 1781, is here subjoined.
MEMORIAL,
Proposing Means for preventing the Sickness and Mortality prevailing among His Majesty’s Seamen in the West Indies.
I have for the two last years attended a squadron, consisting seldom of less than twenty ships of the line, in quality of physician to the fleet at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands. I received, by the order of the Commander in Chief, a monthly return from the surgeon of each ship, setting forth the diseases, deaths, and other circumstances of the respective ships companies. I also superintended the hospital of the place where the fleet happened to lie when in port. These advantages have afforded me an intimate knowledge of the nature and causes of the sickness and mortality among the seamen, both on board of their ships and in hospitals.
It appears by my returns, that there died in the course of the twelve months preceding July last, on board of ships, seven hundred and fifteen seamen and marines, of whom only fifty-nine died in battle and of wounds. There died in the same time in hospitals eight hundred and sixty-two: so that out of twelve thousand one hundred and nine men, which is the sum total of the complement of twenty ships of the line, there have perished in one year one thousand five hundred and seventy-seven, that is nearly every seventh man.
There were also sent to England in the same year, three hundred and fifty men, disabled by lameness and chronic complaints, the greater part of whom will be for ever lost to the service.