Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-05-21
From the Blliimoro PntrinL
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE or AN UNITED
STATES NtEnIf.AT DryfEU

we sincerely believe HAT. IA IhIs age Of prnrt
cal utility. eur lawgivers would not willingly over
lo"k any arrangement coming within the reurh &c
their Powen.ifH onre made evident lp them that
such ab arrangement u one of extensive national
utility, comes into contact with conflicting p,rty
politics, requires extraordinary expenditure OF
public treasure. but merely needs "A legal organic,
ton 10 give II being. L. .nranre &c the practical
purposes of any institution may justify lis neglect
hut that ignnrauro hcing rcmpvcd no excuse is lef
for iis continued neglect when no difficulties np.
T"'se II aud IT. puhlic benefits inIspulaAe One
acquainted with the minute construction OF auy tn,
chine may have had attention attracted by its GEN
cral movements aud operation and MT observe the
important hearing of the sev6 raj paris anil the de
Pendcnce Inch the final result has upon each Of
those paris. Thus il is with our Navy and rs med.
rcal curIs; and II Is matter Of much surprise that
those practical men in the Navy, who are aware nT
the importance of the medic corps 10 its efficiency
have mot done more 10 place that corps upon pro
per fpoIlne, and 10 give ~ better urganizaIinn.-
The medical corps has long waited IN vain Tor such
action. Che of the first inquiries OF ships compa
ny, particularly Il ordered Ia an unhealthy siat,on
=, Who are 10 he iis medical ofIicersl = rike the
medIral corps ir'm the naval service and how
would lis efficiency 10 crippled, ir not al.
nhIlaiedi And II ought ut once 10 be
strnck from The naval service. or II ought 10 be-
placed upon better ipoiirg. Facts. with some r..
heciOn upon them. will show that the present elf
cheney Of the uaves of world is al least To- the eI
tent uf one half derived from the lights and and, Of
their mcdical departments, and the nayies of En-.
rope have done something To max, Ia these dcpari.
menis return for The benefits conferred. That Of
the UrItsd States has dome n"thing.
That we have nnl claimed too much impor,ance 4
for the benefits conferred Ivy efficient medical
department. will he apparent when It Is cnnsilr red
how numerous aud extensive the sources nfdIs
ease 90 which seamen hre oHPsrd. growing out ni /
The great changes Of and the delrIerlnus cIimnes Ia
which they subjected; the influence oi diet aud
the peculiar circumstances Of crow ded ship board
residence.
We cannot better evidence .ihe extent Of these
influences Than = daHe by the following extracts !
rom thu review Of The statistical rep.rs Of DR. VIII
ons Royal Navy, aud for " hich, as the reviewer
cmarks, We are indebted Ito The zral and indus.
~ 81 DR. Wilson,, and 10 the public spirit Of Sir VIII
lam Brunette the Distinguish ed Physician Gene.
al 10 whom the medical Department Of tho navy
under many obligations.
ln enumeraung the peculiar sources oG nautical
disease, the reviewer continues add In th.s. err.
the effect not Of climate merely in the
rJiuary serse Of the Term but Of the ynriaIon. oC
oil and Of the cmanations atisinr from H. rs well
- oi iuod and waie1 Supplied by the several stations
and ne have a multiplicity of Influences brought To
bear on the bodies Of our seamen, IN quick success
SION, the practical yane Of which IL il altogether
4. influence ne
culiauiies Of q ship board residence which is
thus stated.
AT midnight. or hour o'clock in the morning. the
men relieving the deck rush from their beds into
the open ar. often very inadequatcly covered pe,
hafs perplTIng prolussly; aud pass in nm instant
irom highly heated and debliiniing TO, II NAV he
really cold. always 10 n comparatively cold atmos.
phefe - ln OIL ships whatever Their size IN con.
sequeneeol the great number Of men on board thc,e
hat,
his number D greater The vessel = smaller To
show 10 what extent This crDwding Of The sleeping
herhs takes place. 70 sufficient io Stale thai The
usual space between the Suspending points lcIpesl
Of the hammOcks from fourteen 10 eighteen inca.
50 that when they ore extended by tie beds. the
bodies Of Their occupants are in contact When a,
sen, with watch bJnrd The accumulation and
pressure are reduced by q half bat when IN secure
horbor. 500 men perhaps sleep on deck helr bod;e.
~ clnseytpuchng each other over the whole space
iaieral.y, ond with very lille space room length.
WINS.
We will now copy. NJ length the following nor.
tim Of the review showing the great chanresS,t,,~g
huVe been effected by The improved medical ireoL
ment ofseamen and we regret thai al the f1yofabo
Influences here enumerated cannot I've cuimeI i'm
our own service
1--WE cannot" says the reviewer quit tins miro.
ducOry chapter IT The reports without ndyerhnp to
the vast improvement which has taken place oflIis
years m The r0mspu AID health Ofo our seamen a. m
The consequent efficiency Of our naval service
Formerly says the report "a ship ~ war was on
many accounts an object of aversion "and will 10
might be-" "a Diet consisting Of very ssh beef
biscuits long baked, and pnddings made Of salt suet
lnd h0ur '''' waller 20 puirid and offensive, often
~ ihck and green from vegefabls admrinfe and de-
eompsiiinn. and emitting strongly the feor Of rot
ten eggs. ~ 20 disgust nt once the sense 81 smell and
iasie' ne best and almost only luxury ri The seamen
o. 90 oHorbtaHt allowance 1T 50 nfu1us Itguots nj
sea o. oH land The fruitful source of disease md ma.
cry aud Standardization. and crime rn a no. slopas
me ship ITSELF damp. filthy lventatsd. the air al
ne wells - contaminated ilat fatal sshysia yss bg
no mems rare conse lpeucc Of inhalinr b.. ,s,.,,
cleanliness neglected. the coihinr insufficient. bp,
Hile care inkon 10 amuse ibc mimi and none 4, ,,
fruct ~ add 20 al these discomfort. d,.r,,J,,
bot only strict bui severe, and punishment t, ot,c
inflicted atfhe instgaiiOn u morBenfary p,ssioo--,r
We have hifhiu picture Of the Naval service !,
onher years Some Of be worst points of ibis mac
ure. though obliieraiei from ihe British Naval sey
ice, siil femain IN Ours "Bui these hardship4 AID
eprvaiion painful o. they ore % cOniempiaie firm
q nevertheless bot small parf Of tbe mirefies o.
af seairen Disease 'yas wanfod 10 givo he faish
boz f1uch b. he picture, and conver he srons 81
hardship ADD deprivation INTO one ofthriiljng hoysnr
= We shall shJW ia another number III