Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-13


preparation be made for building the proposed
number and descri ption Of vessels.
The health of the officers and crews 81 inc
United States vessels Of var has been generally
good, and uninterrupted BY the attacks OF the
epidemic and malignant 1e,ers which are so rea-
div cngeudercd in tropical climates, and wnich
exert such fatal influence on the constitutions Oh
persons not famiiaised to a residence IN them.
This NAV be ascfibed. in some degree, to the i'm
proved system of ventilation. aud tie g'rat neat
ness observed III the economy ol vessels oi war,
and the adaptation If the diet ana dress u! the
crews TO the temperature {" the coasts ana coHh-
tries where their duties are 10 be pe'tornncd-
The modern discoveries in chemical science have
also been resorted to. 10 preserve the mariner
from attacks of these fatal maades. Several
communication, have bee, received from the Sur
eical Department. By whom experiments on the
chloride of lime were ordered To be made. CIV
I'M the results Of their observations on Its pow
ers in preventing the :,eaeratlon 81 such diseases
From these iew extracts have been taken, land
are herewith transmitted. marked u.
These furnish suffice, Tor coDgra;ulation to
the friends of the improvement Ut the condition
of The seamal's life. ana Indicate that the period
is not remote WHEN service III the climates 0l
the torrid zone will 10 Longer be the terror Of
nautical men, but viii Le performed with as FAIR
a prospect of eXcMp ton from disease "a Is now
experienced in the temperate la'itudes.
* is to be regretted that All exception TO this
general hca,hfu!nss Of the Navy has been eS-
perienc ed in one Oi tue vessels OF the West In
dia squadron.
From the communications OF commodore Eli
oft. it appears that The yellow fever made ITS ap-
D. arancc on board the slogp If war Peacock some
time in the month of June last, and that IL CON
tinurd to harass the crew OF that vessel after lis
return TO Pensacola. in September: nor were ITS
;.tacks ntermltted unit 1t had deprived the SER
vice of four valuable officers, anu OF several sea-
men.
1t is worthy Of remaH. that on board this YES
SCI. the powerful preventive above mentioned was
not used, the Surgeon lsiyng, Tor the preserva-
ton of the health Ct th, crew. Oh the superior
cleanliness and wei! ,cs,iiated state OF the ves-
! sci
The Commissioners of he Navy Board, inter-
pretng the act makingad appropriation for the
repairs of vessels in ordinary, and the wear aud
tear of vessels in commission. as admitting a
greater latitude in its application to naval pur-
POSES. than. it is believed was contemplated BY
the trainers of the law, q was admissible by
fair construction of its sms, have caused to be
Mace of the .John. Ahms." which had been
found defective in the yde' and otherwise TN
| fit for repair.
| This subject was rciared TO your considera-
ton: and in conformit, + your decision. an or
der has been issued. repirng that, IN future.
the application of this tunl shall be confined to
the repairs of vessels u ordinary. and the wear
and tear Of vessels IN t"alm;-sion: and that no
vessels shall be buil,tr rebpt, unless aulhori-
zed by speclfiy appropriation.
| The condition of he Navy hospitals at most of
the Navy Yards in Il Uaited States. is entirely
deficient in the meas Of Giving accommodate. n
TO the invaIids of tlhSavy who may be SO un-
fortunate as to requi it. At most of these pla-
ces. the only provis,n made for their comfort
during illness is somstemp0rary shelter or old
building, possessing one of the requisites ne
cessary for this purpsc. The mariner who re-
turns after long and aihful service in distant
and unconceniaI cEnitus. finds no asylum pre-
pared for his reyptDn and recovery from dis
eases incident tf,uoh service, but is compelled
TO liner out hilfe in crowded and confined
apartments evf less favorable to his restoration
than the hold OF he vessel from which he has been
discharged. r.
The funds vhin have accrued from the month
" deductions Of ihe pay OF the Navy, and the
several appro,riaons made by Congress. have
been expended ilhe erection Of two magnificent
buildings, Meth, of which has been finished.
and but one Of TEN lat Norfolk. Virginia. is
applicable to or signed for. the accommoda-
ton of the sick. or several wears to come. there
canno, be SUCH; accumulation OF Navy hosp-
tai capital, as vi enable the commissioners of
that fund to enGe in the construction Of other
useful and perrnen; buildings fnr these objects.
At Pensacol 10 the mild and salubrious eli
mate Of which e inyaids of the Navy look with
so much ankle as place of refuge and resto-
ration from trtcal pesilence. there is no build.
ING which wilken protect the sufferers from the '
.inclemencies the weather, much less secure to
them the conriencies and comforts which their
situation demds
At New Yk, and at Charlestown, Ma-.a- t
chusetts. Unnecessary lands have been pur- I
chased with Navy hospital funds for the cree c
ton of builds for the use of the sick, and are
in every reset favorably situated for afford I
iny the adwases which such establishments t
should posse
These site, the vicinity of stations which v
are of such oortance to the Navy, from the Il
number Of Gent recruits enlisted a, them for y