of longer or shorter duration. The strength of the patient is sensibly diminished and exhausted. The legs refuse to support the body, and when he attempts to walk he loses his equilibrium, and falls as one who is inebriated, he throws himself into the first corner, and there remains immoveable until the act of vomiting obliges him to change his position. The nutrition of the body is suspended, because nothing can be retained on the stomach; emaciation ensues and increases. The faculties of the mind suffer in common with the organs of animal life, and this change takes place to such a degree, that instead of dreading death, as in the commencement of the disease, their suffering is so intolerable, that they desire it; and as I have seen, attempt to commit suicide.

This disease would doubtless prove fatal, if it were of long duration, but it rarely happens that the causes which produce it continue to act with the same force until the 7th, 8th or 9th day. When the tempest is most violent, it sooner ceases, and the disease disappears with the rough weather. The return of favorable winds or of the trade-winds, removes sea-sickness as by enchantment, and restores the patient to his functions; his strength is soon repaired, and he quickly forgets his distress: but the first contrary winds, more especially if they be violent, reproduce the same symptoms as described, with the exception that in some cases they are much mildersome have no return of them: the organs become by degrees accustomed to such concussions and collisions, and perform their functions with regularity. There are also persons in whom the symptoms are equally as severe in the second and third voyage as in the first. It is difficult to explain all these variations; in every instance the brain is most affected. This is proved by the relief which is afforded by getting into a swinging hammock, and covering the head with a tight bandage. As long as the

person remains in this situation, the sea-sickness is relieved, but immediately returns when he leaves his hammock, and comes in contact with the vessel.

Although this disease is very distressing, persons seldom die from it, unless other diseases are complicated with it; but they may languish a long time and fall into a marasmus. We know but little of the prophylaxis of this disease, and we know of no remedies which can cure it. The cause must be removed before it can cease. Still it will be less violent and of shorter continuance, if before its attack, to particular personal neatness be added general ablution of the whole body in water, strongly acidulated with vinegar, strict temperance, the use of acid vegetables mixed with diet and drinks, and the moderate use of the pipe. Exposure to cold and moist air during the night should be avoided, nor should the person remain between decks, and in the interior of the ship where there is a nauseous and vitiated atmosphere, which increases the disposition to vomit. The example of old mariners should be followed, who, during their leisure, walk on deck where the air is purest, and where the eyes become accustomed to the motion of the vessel and the waves.

When sea sickness has come on, but little food should be taken, and that should be easy of digestion, and such as will absorb the gastrick fluid (which is now redundant) and give tone to the stomach, as the crust of bread and buiscuit dipped in coffee or good wine; or in vinegar and water or lemonade, when coffee and wine are not agreeable. Tea and light punch are equally useful; but all rich and sweet articles are to be avoided, with soups and all kinds of peas; but little roast meat should be taken, or rice prepared in the Turkish manner; expo

* We observe that persons who travel in coaches which are badly hung, and with their backs turned towards the horses, are affected with this sickness. The camels of Egypt produce the same effects on those who mount them the first time.

sure to cold should be avoided, and exercise should be taken, and the recreation which musick, &c. can afford: the symptoms of sea-sickness are thus alleviated, and its dangerous consequences obviated.*

After a few days of pleasant weather, we encountered another tempest more violent than the first and of longer continuance, which drove us 200 leagues from the grand bank of Newfoundland, near the Azores. After laying to for three days at the mercy of the waves, we resumed our course towards the banks of Newfoundland, where we intended to stop and fish for cod.

After remaining a short time on the banks, we pursued our voyage to Newfoundland, and soon found ourselves in the latitude of Belle-Isle, near which we sailed. From this island we took twenty-one of twenty-three unfortunate sailors who had been shipwrecked on it; they were pale, disfigured, benumbed with cold, and dying from hunger and thirst. I found that many of them had their fingers and feet frozen; we accommodated them below in the cabin and state-room, where mattresses, &c. were prepared for them. Cold embrocations of camphorated brandy, soup made with slices of meat, and good wine and sugar re-animated them. I afterwards attended to the local gangrenous affection under which the majority of them laboured.

We at length arrived in the bay of Croc, in Newfoundland, after a dangerous and distressing passage of fiftyfour days. Here also are the principal cod-fisheries, and we remained at this place until the 31st of July following; next day we landed on the coast, and the captain marked out cantonments for the officers, and gave orders

* Dr. Keraudren, medical inspector of the navy, whom I have consulted on this subject, also thinks that in this disease the brain is primarily affected, and that the phenomena which take place, are produced by the influence of this organ.

VOL. I.

B

that the sailors should assist in the construction of the cabins. I had one erected for my sick, and for the shipwrecked sailors who had undergone operations; and I had one built for myself near it, to which was attached a small garden that I cultivated with my own hands. While I remained here, I often visited the fisheries of the Europeans, I stuffed birds and quadrupeds, I hunted, and made frequent excursions to the interior.

The cod-fish which are caught here by the line (seldom with nets) are afterwards embowelled and cleaned by persons who attend to nothing olse, some cutting off the head and spreading them out, while others salt and dry them; the tongues and the roe of the cod are prepared separately.

The climate of Newfoundland, although it lies between the 46th and 52d degrees of north latitude, is very cold and moist. When we landed at the end of June, the mountains were covered with snow; we saw it in some places very thick and frozen hard, which led me to believe that it never melted. On these mountains grow forests of pine and fir, of larch and birch. The diminutive size of these trees proves the severity of the cold of this climate; wild pear trees are also found here a few inches in height, the fruit of which does not exceed the size of a pea. All the plants are wild and smaller than in Europe. Among the animals of this country we remarked the white sea bear, much larger and more ferocious than the common brown bear, which is also found here. This animal swims after the fishing boats, more especially when they are small, overturns them with his paws when he can reach them, and masters the fishermen. He often lays waste the fisheries, and it becomes necessary for the men to unite in numbers to resist him.

We also found in this country a kind of large stag, which is called caribou; it differs from the common stag

only in its superior dimensions, and in having its horns covered during their growth with a short yellow hair. The caribou sometimes comes near the houses; during the night one of them broke into our sheep-fold, where we had a cow that became pregnant by him. She no doubt produced a mongrel: but I lost the opportunity of ascertaining this fact, because she was carried back to Brest. I was told that the rein-deer of this country are similar to those of Canada. There are no wolves, but the lynx is common. I saw a black fox with a tail tipped with white; its fur is considered valuable. The beaver is also common: while demolishing one of their cabins, I surprized two of their young, one of which I took. The construction of these cabins is extremely curious, and justifies the account which naturalists have given of them,

A species of wild cat is also found in Newfoundland, which like the civet, produces musk. The hares, although larger than the same species in Europe, are grey in summer and white in winter; the edges of their ears are always white. Europeans who reside here assert, that they change their colour without changing their hair, They are more easily taken than those of Europe.

Several birds in this climate present remarkable varią tions: a species of red partridge, which is very common (tetra lagopus, LIN.) differs from that in Europe in being much larger. The circumference of the eyes is ornamented with a fleshy ring of a scarlet colour. The beak is red, and the toes are covered with thick grey silk or hair, down to the nails. These partridges are also red with brown spots in the summer, and white in winter, as I know from observation. It is also said that this change of colour takes place without a change of plumage. The blackbird is also of a reddish brown in summer, and white in winter. This change is no doubt effected in the same manner as in the partridge. These birds