On the new theories and experiences of scurvy : read before the Bombay Medical and Physical Society, with additions from the author's contributions to the Lancet &c. / by Cameron Macdowall.

  • Macdowall, Cameron Joseph Francis Stuart, 1832-
Date:
[1884?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the new theories and experiences of scurvy : read before the Bombay Medical and Physical Society, with additions from the author's contributions to the Lancet &c. / by Cameron Macdowall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    2/8 (page 2)
    Meat they appreciate thoroughly, hut even ewe'a milk is so precious that they cannot aflford to kill and eat meat often—at the very oftenest once a week or so. Seeing the scarcity in and barrenness of the land, I had long felt that such must be the case. How could it indeed be otherwise under the circum- stances ? Another impression prevails also that these tribes eat no vegetables. Now, during a late march, my guide pointed out some of the cruciferce growing wild (which made excellent substitutes for spinach at my dinner). Three or four sorts have been already brought to supply my table from the environs, as well as wild shallots, onions, &c. He told me his people were very fond of them, and that there were many wild plants like them on the hills. I have watercress for breakfast almost every morning, brought from the nearest spring. One may see men and boys stop by the roadside to gather and eat (raw) various species of umbelliferos (anethum, Sc.), lilliace(B,fabacece, leaves and all besides cruciferce. I have no doubt that a good botanist would find that, barren as the hills appear, many more herbs are eatable and are used as food by the natives. The Englishman is too apt to summarise all vegetables as consisting only of potatoes and green peas. During at least one season of the year some fruit is gathered here, whilst melons and pumpkins (less useful) are almost too plentiful, for health, in some places. A great deal has been said about Laplanders and Grreenlanders having next to no vegetables. It must be remembered however, that the milk of the reindeer is plentiful, ( also the vegetable contents of its first stomach, which is carefully pre- served and eaten), and that in summer cruciferae, lichens, &c., may be found, in addition to the fresh meat of the walrus, &c. It must be also remembered that in Iceland, Grreenland, Lap- land, and Canada even, scuivy is common enough. (BoucJtardat) But what shall be said of a commander who, although having no chance of fresh milk and an uncertain chance of fresh meat, refuses to carry limejuice on his sledges ? The