Volume 3

Medicina nautica : an essay on the diseases of seamen ... / by Thomas Trotter.

  • Thomas Trotter
Date:
1804
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medicina nautica : an essay on the diseases of seamen ... / by Thomas Trotter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    483/526 (page 469)
    fuch I conceive to be the beginning, progrefs, and iffue of the malignant ulcer. If there is any certainty in the caufes which I have affigned, as producing fome peculiarity of habit on which this ulcer depends, it in fome meafure accounts for the little effect which all topical dreffings and applications have had in the cure. . When a difeafe like the one in queftion, which has ufually appeared in a warm country only, comes to fhew itfelf in a cold climate, it is rea- fonable to conclude that there muft be fome fimi- larity in the caufes which produce it, in both ficuations. The feaman in the Channel] ftation, when in port, and for a few weeks after going to fea, is allowed a very wholefome beer; but when- ever it can be obtained, he {wallows, with extraor- dinary greedinefs, enormous quantities of fpirit*. The houfes to which our men refort cannot be thought of but with horror: he is there plied with the poifon, till he finks on the floor, anda few mi- nutes is often the time taken to complete the dofe. This is not like a perfon that, though he may drink a great deal in the end, is flow and deli- berate in gulping it down: hence the frequent deaths, in a ftate of intoxication, which we daily meet with. If the body fuffers a diminution in its excitement between the Weft Indies and Ply- * In the year 1795, Earl Howe and Sir Roger Curtis, on my reprefentation, took much pains to convince the Vidualling Board of the falutary effects that might be expected, by allow- ing the feamen, when at fea, beer of a greater ftrength, with more hops, in order to preferve it, and to abolifh the ufe of fpirit. No additional expence could have been incurred, for the quantity might have been diminifhed. ‘This propofal, like many others, fell to the ground; it was condemned without being tried. Hh 3 mouth