A letter to the critical reviewers, on the most effectual means of preventing sickness in His Majesty's fleets and diminishing the expences of maritime service / by William Renwick.

  • Renwick, William, 1740?-1814.
Date:
1794
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to the critical reviewers, on the most effectual means of preventing sickness in His Majesty's fleets and diminishing the expences of maritime service / by William Renwick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    16/48 (page 16)
    C >6 ] in the fluids: whence the early recoveries recorded in maritime hiftory, on removal from the place of contagion to an atmofphere where the blood was invigorated by purer refpiration. This is alfo manifefted in frequent relapfes, till nature becomes familiarized to the poifon by which furvivors are ultimately incapacitated for further fervice. Hence, though pacific periods are fo fliort, the ufual a- poftrophe on every acceflion of armament—“ What is become of our feamen !* Such, Gentlemen, was the retrofpe61: that occa- fioned inquiries which the magnitude of their im- portance, and conneflion with the public welfare, forbid me to relinquifti. In a further appearance at the bar of your tribunal, I am truftful that, how- ever otherwife defeftive, I fhall not be found in the * For the cure of febrile difeafes in the climate of contagion, bark and laudanum, exhibited in ardent fpirits, are much recom-: mended. Thefe, admitting their aflerted effefts, can ©niy counterafl (and fo would a glafs of brandy per Je) the poifon in which the febrile langour has been fhown to originate. The truth is, that their efficacy is chiefly prevalent in the vehicles that would be moll efficacious without their ingredients. Congenial with the above prafHce, is the cuftomary treat- ment of conflitutional maladies on ffiore. Weakly women are frequently advifed, and that by the moft eminent phyficians, to ufe bark and port* wine for ftrengthening their ftoraachs; although it is certain that their ftomachs do not ultimately di- geft the prefcription. They are, however, prejudiced In its favour from the temporary influence of the vinous penllruum; which a modern author on female difeafes has fo improved, as to recommend to delicate ladies four table fpoonfuls, daily, of a tinflure made of the flrongefl Nants. A nota bene fhould have fufpended the prefcription during the pleafantefl month in the year.