s and
pleasant.]

But if the _fixed air_ and acids are such preservatives against the
scurvy, why should Captain Cook make so little account of the _rob_ of
lemons and of oranges (for so they have called the extracts or
inspissated juices of those fruits) in treating that distemper? This I
found was the reason. These preparations being only sent out upon trial,
the surgeon of the ship was told, at a conjecture, how much he might give
for a dose, but without strictly limiting it. The experiment was made
with the quantity specified, but with so little advantage, that judging
it not adviseable to lose more time, he set about the cure with the wort
only, whereof the efficacy he was certain; whilst he reserved these robs
for other purposes; more particularly for colds, when, to a large draught
of warm water, with some spirits and sugar, he added a spoonful of one of
them, and with this composition made a grateful sudorific that answered
the intention. No wonder then if Captain Cook, not knowing the proper
dose of these concentrated juices for the scurvy, but feeing them fail as
they were given in the trial, should entertain no great opinion of their
antiscorbutic virtue. It may be also proper to take notice, that as they
had been reduced to a small proportion of their bulk by evaporation upon
fire, it is probable, they were much weakened by that process, and that
with their aqueous parts they had lost not a little of their aerial, on
which so much of their antiseptic power depended. If, therefore, a
further trial of these excellent fruits were to be made, it would seem
more adviseable to send to sea the purified juices entire in casks;
agreeably to a proposal I find hath been made to the Admiralty some years
ago by an ingenious and experienced surgeon of the navy. For in truth,
the testimonies in favour of the salutary qualities of these acids are so
numerous and so strong, that I should look upon some failures, even in
cases where their want of success cannot so well be accounted for, as in
this voyage, not a sufficient reason for striking them out of the list of
the most powerful preservatives against this consuming malady of sailors.

It may be observed, that Captain Cook says not more in praise of vinegar
than of the _robs_; yet I would not thence infer that he made no account
of that acid, but only that as he happened in this voyage to be sparingly
provided with it and yet did well, he could not consider a large store o