rather, that in producing this great
mortality, a pestilential kind of distemper was joined to the scurvy,
which, from the places where it most frequently occurs, hath been
distinguished by the name of jail or hospital-fever*. But whether the
scurvy alone, or this fever combined with it, were the cause, it is not
at present material to inquire, since both, arising from foul air and
other sources of putrefaction, may now in a great measure be obviated by
the various means fallen upon since Lord Anson's expedition. For in
justice to that prudent as well as brave commander, it must be observed
that the arrangements preparatory to his voyage were not made by himself;
that his ship was so deeply laden as not to admit of opening the
gun-ports, except in the calmest weather, for the benefit of air; and
that nothing appears to have been neglected by him, for preserving the
health of his men, that was then known and practised in the navy.

[* Dr. Mead, who had seen the original observations of two of Commodore
Anson's surgeons, says, that the scurvy at that time was accompanied with
putrid fevers, etc. See his Treatise on the Scurvy, p. 98. et seq.]

I should now proceed to enumerate the chief improvements made since that
period, and which have enabled our ships to make so many successful
circumnavigations, as in a manner to efface the impression of former
disasters; but as I have mentioned the sickness most destructive to
mariners, and against the ravages of which those preservatives have been
mainly contrived, it may be proper briefly to explain its nature, and the
rather as, unless among mariners, it is little understood. First then, I
would observe that the scurvy is not the ailment which goes by that name
on shore. The distemper commonly, but erroneously, in this place, called
the scurvy, belongs to a class of diseases totally different from what we
are now treating of; and so far is the commonly received opinion, that
there are few constutions altogether free from a scorbutic taint, from
being true, that unless among sailors and some others circumstanced like
them, more particularly with respect to those who use a salt and putrid
diet, and especially if they live in foul air and uncleanliness, I have
reason to believe there are few disorders less frequent. This opinion I
submitted to the judgment of the society several years ago, and I have
had no reason since to alter it. I then said, contrary to what was
generally believ