An inquiry into the nature and causes of sickness in ships of war : showing the error of its being chiefly ascribed to maritime diet, and that it cannot be prevented by the acids so generally recommended, by what means that prevention may be most effectually attained, and with least expence to the state : to which are added, a review of Sir John Pringle's Discourse on preserving the health of mariners, with other medical disquisitions, including remarks on the new dispensatory of the London College of Physicians / by William Renwick.

  • Renwick, William, 1740?-1814.
Date:
1792
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the nature and causes of sickness in ships of war : showing the error of its being chiefly ascribed to maritime diet, and that it cannot be prevented by the acids so generally recommended, by what means that prevention may be most effectually attained, and with least expence to the state : to which are added, a review of Sir John Pringle's Discourse on preserving the health of mariners, with other medical disquisitions, including remarks on the new dispensatory of the London College of Physicians / by William Renwick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    18/84 (page 18)
    be lefs general, and to affume a milder form ; the va- pour in which it originates becoming lefs putrid from the relaxation of the (hip’s timbers during the courfe of fervice, and the furviving crews growing fo habituated with the (hip’s atmofphere, as only to be affedled in the manner antecedently noticed. The- miftocles, the Athenian general, is recorded to have been from his infancy fo acculiomed to poifon, that when he wanted to deftroy himfelf by its influence, he was not able to effe6l it.—It is proper to add, that before the period arrives in which febrile ficknefs (las' been faid to diminifh, provinces are depopulated to replenifh the thoufands to whom it is previoufly fa- tal.* It is generally alferted that (curvy, fine pyrexia, does not affeft the (lomach; becaufe there is, it is faid, no want of appetite. This, however, is no fub- (lantiation of the foundnefs contended for; appetite being often vitiated from a depravity of the menftruum mod favourable to corruption. Nor can the digef- tive organs be naturally (uppofed in a falubrious (late while every other part of the fyftem is difeafed. It is probable, for the very reafon afligned to difprove it, * It often happens where the crew have obtained the habitude abovementioned, that on the incorporation ot impreiled men who have never been at fea, a contagious fever fupervenes. This has led into error the moll eminent writers; who ha ce al- ways alferted, that the {hip was in a healthy Hate till infefted by diforders received with thole that might have continued free from ficknefs,1* had they themfclves not been infefled by the fiiip. Learned authors appear to be equally millaken in afcribing to the pcrfpiration of the timber in new (hips, dfe£ls Ihown to have a more deleterious origin.