Volume 2

An account of the experiment made at the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on board the Union hospital ship, to determine the effect of the nitrous acid in destroying contagion, and the safety with which it may be employed. In a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Earl Spencer / [James Carmichael Smyth].

  • James Carmichael Smyth
Date:
1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the experiment made at the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on board the Union hospital ship, to determine the effect of the nitrous acid in destroying contagion, and the safety with which it may be employed. In a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Earl Spencer / [James Carmichael Smyth]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/78 (page 10)
    \ [ 1° ] > f I 4 ' t -5 hundred and fifty were in different ftages of a malignant fever, extremely contagious, as appeared evident from its rapid progrefs, and fatal effects, amongft the attendants on the ficfc, and the fhip’s company. For, from the beginning of September laft, when the Ruffian fick were firft admitted into the hofpital; eight nurfes and two wafher-women had been attacked with this fever, and of thefe three had died. About twenty-four of the fhip’s company had likewife been ill of the fame diforder, and \ of thefe a furgeon’s mate and two marines died. Upon the whole, however, the mor¬ tality had not been fo great as there were reafons to dread, from the virulence of the contagion, and malignity of the difeafej which can only be afcribed to the great care and attention of Mr. Baffan, furgeon to the hofpital, whofe conduct in fo critical a fituation does him the higheft honor, and reflects luftre on his profeffional abilities, in the faithfuldifcharge of fo unpleafantaduty. 9 After /