If we consider the many benefits that navigation contributes to commerce
in general, and how much the prosperity of nations are indebted to its
source, we must without hesitation declare seamen, a most respectable
part of mankind; and if we reflect a moment, on the many hazards and
perils they are exposed to on that precarious element, and the
advantages we reap from their toil, the common feelings of human
society, must awake and remind us, not only how much we are obliged as
social members, even from a motive of self interest, to study their
preservation, but as fellow creatures, how forcibly our duty calls us to
give them every aid in our power, and to lighten the burthen of their
many toils.
A ship at sea may be considered as a floating kingdom; and the subjects,
however few in number, are not only liable to the same accidents as
those on shore, but to many more, peculiar to that precarious and
fluctuating element that surrounds them. For this reason there are many
things requisite to be known by the mariners besides the art of
conducting a ship from port to port.
Of all the various knowledges that distinguish the human species from
the brute creation, what is of more value than that which tends to the
preservation of life and health? I believe that every man who is
actuated by motives of philanthropy will with me wish, that mankind in
general would advert more to it in the principles of education, than
what they at present do. Indeed it is astonishing that so valuable an
acquisition, as to have some knowledge of the body we possess, and its
preservation, should be so totally neglected, as to be entirely excluded
from education; an acquisition that not only enlivens the mind, but in
itself is so very essential to our existence; yet what is more to be
wondered at, is, that a seaman who launches into the main ocean, is cut
off from every assistance, in case of an accident or sickness, and
rendered wholly unable to give the least aid to himself, or those who
are entrusted to his care. Large ships I own are exempt from this
observation: but are not the lives of men on board of small ships
equally as valuable, and worth preserving, as those of greater burthen?
I am not the first who has had the welfare of seamen at heart; various
writers, and men of abilities too, have presented the world with
observations, that undoubtedly have proved beneficial to that class of
men; but then these books were neither intended, nor fit to be put into
the hands of such seamen, as actually stand most in need of those very
observations they have made, and only intended for the perusal of men of
physical talents; nevertheless they merit for their labour public
thanks, as useful members of society. But if we take an impartial view
of the number of seamen, I believe the greatest part are employed in
small ships, that either carry no surgeon, or (I am sorry to say it)
sometimes one they had better be without; especially in war time, when
they stand most in need of a good one.
To benefit these men, and at the same time to make that benefit
universal, is the plan I have aimed at; and I believe this is the first
attempt of the kind; at least I know of none whose steps I have followed
in this design.
Should I ask physical writers why they have neglected so valuable a part
of society as seamen, in giving them their friendly instructions
respecting their health, I doubt not, but the majority would reply, that
the education of masters of ships and seamen in general, has not enabled
them to understand a subject so much above their comprehension, or
sphere. But if seamen have not the advantage of an extensive education,
are they divested therefore of common sense and understanding? and is it
not possible to deliver them instructions, dressed in so plain a
language as to adapt it to their capacity?
Nevertheless, though men of abilities have not thought seamen worth
their pen, others have; but such whose pursuit in life has been
stimulated by motives of a different cast. Those have furnished seamen
not only with directions to cure _all_ diseases, but even given them
medicines to do it with, into the bargain; or to speak more seriously,
given them directions how to use such medicines as would yield the most
profit to the apothecary, who with pretended wisdom equipt them out: and
I am apt to think, that kind of quackery has stolen away the lives of
many valuable seamen.
It is universally asserted that seamen are not fond of reading; this in
a great measure is true, but far from being a general rule; and though
blind prejudice has given them an aversion to every thing _physical_,
yet I will venture to say so much in their behalf, that hitherto nothing
has been offered to them that could alter their opinion in this respect,
or open their eyes, in shewing them the beauties of that useful study,
and in how small a compass its true principles might be contained.
Physic like religion is rendered intricate and abstruse, the more it
abounds in errors and absurdities; but truth like the brilliant sun,
drives away all the phantoms of perplext mysteries, and proves that both
alike are simple and beautiful, founded on reason, and that its most
useful part is comprehensive to common understanding. This pleads in
favour of my attempt, and with every man of sense, must overpower
prejudice.
That I might the better succeed in my intention, I have begun the whole
at the first principles, namely the mechanism of the human body; for I
cannot see how any man can pretend to know the nature of diseases, or
presume to administer any thing with certainty, without he has some
knowledge of the parts that suffer: this then is the subject of my first
lecture; and to make it the more pleasing, and to entice the reader to
pursue, I have stript it of every thing pedantic, or the unnecessary
perplexing particulars, and confined myself to such things only, as
gives a concise and true idea of the whole animal system; and if I may
be allowed to judge from the opinion of some of my learned friends, I
flatter myself, that my readers, physical or not, will give me their
sanction, as well with respect to plainness of language, as conciseness
of the subject, and the utility of such a short dissertation, founded on
experience, and stript of prejudice and errors.
The second lecture contains equally as copious a subject as the first;
contracted in a very small compass, and which I hope will give as much
satisfaction as the forementioned.
Out of the whole _Materia Medica_, I have chosen but very few medicines,
and these I have confined myself to throughout the whole book. Many
surgeons at sea will not, I know, be contented with so small an
assortment; and I remember the time that such an observation might have
been applicable to myself; but as I have by long experience learned to
shake off prejudices, and been taught by the help of philosophy to pry
into the nature of things in general, I solemnly declare, that now, I
would venture to go to any part of the globe, not only with that little
assortment of medicines I have mentioned, but even with many less. The
_emetick tartar_, _sublimate mercury_ and the _bark_ are powerful
medicines; but they should be in very skillful hands, otherwise they are
rank poisons, and therefore I have omitted them here; but strictly
speaking, every good medicine is the same. I have two maxims in physic,
which I strictly attend to; one is, that to my friends I give the least
medicines; the other is, that the principal virtue of a medicine depends
on its application.
The form of the medicine box, I have constructed so as it appears to me
most convenient and handy; and every kind of medicine, I would advise to
have labeled with their proper names, as well as with another mark that
may take the eye at first sight; and the more to prevent mistake, one
label should be fixt on the pot that contains the medicine, and the
other on the box: for in medicines too much caution cannot be used.
One thing with respect to the medicines, I have omitted, and that is
their quantity requisite for the box, and their prices: I intended to
have taken notice of this, but found that that could not with exactness
be ascertained, unless entering into another subject, and that would
take off from the conciseness of my plan. As I have however many other
things respecting the benefit of seamen to offer, peculiarly respecting
distant climates, I shall take notice of this, where it may come in,
more pertinently to the subject: till then, that must be left to the
management of the apothecary who is applied to for fitting out the box.
If he is a man of candour and judgment he cannot be much out of his
calculation, when he knows the number of hands, and the voyage intended.
With respect to the other lectures, I have, as near as it was
practicable, divided them into their different classes and sections; at
the same time the whole is so linked together, that one lecture must
support the other. And as I have throughout the whole course of the book
differed more or less from the general mode of practice, I must hereby
declare, that I have in this consulted my own experience more than any
other authority, without fear of censure, or hope of applause, any
farther than of truth, and my own conscience.
Though I have principally written with an intent to be understood by
masters of ships who carry no surgeon; yet I am well persuaded that
every practitioner, whether on sea or shore, will find many things to
his improvement.
With respect to my receipts, they are simple and powerful; yet I do not
enjoin so strict a conformity to them, by the practitioner, who has an
extensive knowledge of the _materia medica_, and is prepossessed in
favour of some particular medicines; but as he will discover my
indications, it may serve greatly to compare that of mine with his own,
and then he may judge for himself. I have touched very slightly on the
requisite diet for patients on board a ship; though this is an essential
article regarding health in general: But I found that subject also of so
very extensive a kind, that it would swell the book; but as I have many
valuable things to offer of the same nature, I must beg, that in the
mean time, the reader will be satisfied with the universal observations
in general; namely, that temperance is the principal object and that
patients who are deprived of exercise ought to have the most easy
digesting food. Copper and lead are pernicious; but iron and earthen
ware are safest either on sea or shore.
In order to render the book as useful as my zeal has intended, I
recommend it a fair perusal, from the first page to the last; a book of
this nature is apt to be looked into, only when advice is wanted: that
method is wrong; and in such a case, the best book in the world is apt
to mislead. It is not enough that we know what we are to do with such
and such disorders, but we should previously know what the disorder is;
and how shall we know that, without having some idea of the evil before
it comes on?
A book of this size is soon perused; taking a lecture or a section at a
leisure time on board, will soon send the reader through the whole; and
I flatter myself, that one perusal will lead to the second, when then it
may be referred to for advice with safety; and I hope a study so
essential to self-preservation, will be viewed in a more agreeable
light, than it has hitherto been.
To compleat the whole, a copper-plate is annexed, wherein the most
material utensils are exhibited, which was scarce capable to be
explained by bare description, to men unacquainted with surgery.
To conclude, I must beg leave to observe, that the respect and esteem,
with which I have been constantly honoured by every worthy seaman, whose
life and health were committed to my care, have I confess, stimulated my
endeavours, to offer them this book as a grateful return. And I am happy
to reflect, that my experience in life enables me to make it worth their
acceptance. May they reap that benefit from it, which my heart has
intended them; and this is all the reward I wish to obtain.