Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 13, MAT-MIC

M E D I
In a letter which this very celebrated and fuccefs-
ful circumnavigator wrote to Sir John Pringle, he
gives an account of the methods purfued for preferv-
ing the health of his people j and which were pro¬
ductive of fuch happy eifeCts, that he performed “ a
voyage of three years and 18 days, through all the
climates from 520 north to 710 fouth, with the lofs of
one man only by difeafe, and who died of a compli¬
cated and lingering illnefs, without any mixture of
fcurvy. Iwo others wrere unfortunately drowned, and
one killed by a fall 5 fo that out of the whole number
118 with which he fet out from England, he loft
only four.”
He fays, that much wras owing to the extraordinary
attention of the admiralty, in caufing fuch articles to
be put on board as either by experience or conjecture
avere judged to tend molt to prefcrve the health of fea-
tnen : and with refpeft to the wort, he exprefles himfelf
as follows :
“ We had on board a large quantity of malt, of
which was made fweet wort, and given (not only to
thofe men who had manifeft fymptoms of the fcurvy,
but to fuch alfo as were, from circumftances, judged
to be moft liable to that diforder) from one or two to
three pints in the day to each man, or in fuch propor¬
tion as the furgeon thought necelfary, which fome-
times amounted to three quarts in the 24 hours : this
is without doubt one. of the belt fea antifcorbutic
medicines yet found out ; and if given in time, will,
with proper attention to other things, I am perfuaded,
prevent the fcurvy from making any great progrefs
for a confiderable time : but I am not altogether of
opinion that it will cure it, in an advanced ftate, at
fea.”
On this laft point, however, the captain and his
furgeon differ ; for this gentleman pofitively afferts,
and his journal (in Dr Macbride’s poffefTion) confirms
it, that the infufion of malt did effect a cure in a con¬
firmed cafe, and at fea
The malt being thoroughly dried, and packed up
in fmall calks, is carried to fea, where it wdll keep
found, in every variety of climate, for at leait two
years : when wanted for ufe, it is to be ground in a
hand mill, and the infufion prepared from day to day,
by pouring three meafures of boiling water on one
of the ground malt ; the mixture being well mafhed,
is left to infufe for 10 or 12 hours, and the clear in¬
fufion then ftrained off. The patients are to drink it
in fuch quantities as may be deemed neceffary, from
one to three quarts in the courfe of the 24 hours : a
panada is alfo to be made of it, by adding bifeuit,
and currants or raifins ; and this palatable mefs is ufed
by way of folid food. This courfe of diet, like that
of the recent vegetables, generally keeps the bowels
fufficiently open ; but in cafes where coflivenefs never-
thelef' prevails, gentle laxatives mult be interpofed from
time to time, together with diaphoretics, and the topical
afiiffants, fomentations and gargles, as in the common
wav of management.
Captain Cook ivas alfo provided with a large flock
four hr out; (cabbage leaves cut fmall, fermented
■and flopped in^ the fecond flage of fermentation, and
■afterwards preferved by a due quantity of fait). A
pound of this was ferved to each man, twice a-week,
while they were at fea. Sour krout, fmee the trial
C 1 N E- Prance,
made^of iit on board ^ Captain Cook’s fhips, has been Scorbutus.
extenflyely ufed by dire&ion of the Britiih govern¬
ment in many other fituations, where fcorbutus has
prevailed and it has been round to be highly fervice-
able both in preventing and in curing the difeafe. It
was particularly found, during the late American war,
to be highly beneficial to the Britiih troops befieged
in Bofton, who were at that time entirely fed on fait
provifions fent from England, and among whom true
fcorbutus was very fatal till the four krout arrived.
The fcurvy at one period broke out among them with
very alarming appearances ; but by the feafonable ar¬
rival of a quantity of four krout, it was effeftually over¬
come. Care, however, mull be bellowed, that this ar¬
ticle be properly prepared and properly kept. When
due attention is paid to thefe particulars, it may be
preferved in good condition for many months ; and is
confidered both by bailors and foldiers as a very accept¬
able addition to their fait provifions. But when ferved
out to them in a putrid ftate, it is not onlv highly dif-
agreeable to the tafte, but probably alfo pernicious in
its effedts.
^ Among other means of preventing fcurvy, Captain
Cook had alfo a liberal fupply of portable foup;
of which the men had generally an ounce, three
days in the week, boiled up with their peafe ; and
fometimes it was ferved to them oftener ; and when
they could get frelh greens, it was boiled up with
them, and made fuch an agreeable mefs, that it
was the means of making the people eat a greater
quantity of greens than they would otherwife have
done. And what was Kill of further advantage,
they were furnilhed with fugar in lieu of butter or
oil, which is feldom of the fvveeteft fort 5 fo that
the crew were undoubtedly great gainers by the ex¬
change.
In addition to all thefe advantages of being fo
well provided with every necefiary, either in the way
of diet or medicine, Captain Cook was remarkably at¬
tentive to all the circumftances refpefting cleanlinefs,
exercife, fufficient clothing, provifion of pure water,
and purification of the air in the clofer parts of the
ftiip.
From the eflTeft of thele different means, as em¬
ployed by Captain Cook, there can be little doubt
that they will with due attention be fufficient for
the prevention and cure of the difeafe, at leaft in
moft fituations : but befides thefe, there are alfo fome
other articles which may be employed w-ith great ad¬
vantage.
Newly brewed fpruce beer made from a decoflion
of the tops of the fpruce fir and melaffes, is an ex¬
cellent antifcorbutic j it a£ts in the fame way that the
wort does, and will be found of equal efficacy, and
therefore may be fubftituted. Where the tops of
the fpruce fir are not to be had, this beer may be pre¬
pared from the effence of fpruce as it has been call¬
ed, an article which keeps eafily for a great length of
time. But in fituations where neither the one nor
the other can be had, a moft; falutary mefs may be
prepared from oatmeal, by infufing it in water,
in a wooden veffel, till it ferments, and begins to
turn fouriffi ; which generally happens, in mode¬
rately warm weather, in the fpace- of two days;-—
The liquor is then ftrained off from the grounds,
nnd