Nutrition-diatetics
(WATER LAPS AGAINST A WOODEN HULL)
(WIND HOWLS IN THE DISTANCE)
(DISTANT THUNDER)
(SQUEAKING TIMBER)
(FAINT KNOCKING ON WOOD)
(AGAIN, THE KNOCKING SOUND)
(RHYTHMIC LAPPING OF WATER)
(SAILS FLAP IN STRONG WIND)
(DISTANT THUNDER)
(FAINT KNOCKING)
(SAILS FLAP AS THE WIND BECOMES STRONGER)
(FAINT KNOCKING)
**Activated sensor**
(CRASHING WAVES)
FORTY-ISH ENGLISHMAN: The countenance becomes pale, sallow and bloated, the gums itch, swell, become red and spongy and frequently bleed. The breath and urine are foetid. The skin is in general smooth and shining but sometimes it is rough and has the appearance of goose skin, livid in black spots of various sizes.
(WAVES ROAR AND CRASH)
EDUCATED MIDDLE-AGED ENGLISHMAN: At other times, the whole body, but more especially the legs, were subject to ulcers of the worst kind, attended with rotten bones and such a luxuriancy of fungus flesh as yielded to no remedy. The scars of wounds which had been for many years healed were forced open again by this virulent distemper. One of the invalids on board the Centurion, who had been wounded about 50 years before at the Battle of the Boyne, on his being attacked by the scurvy, his wounds broke out afresh and appeared as if they had never been healed. Never was a crew in a more distressed situation. They had already thrown overboard two thirds of their complement and of those that remained alive, scarcely any were capable of doing duty, except the officers and their servants.
ANOTHER MIDDLE-AGED ENGLISHMAN: This lamentable disease, which hath so long and so fiercely assailed sailors and seamen, it is strange in so many ages past that no one surgeon of our countrymen hath, out of his experience, taken in hand sincerely to set down to posterities the true causes, signs and cure thereof.
OLDER ENGLISHMAN: The ship was supplied by the Admiralty with sauerkraut, which I eat of constantly, till our salted cabbage was opened, which I preferred as a pleasant substitute. Wort was served out almost constantly and this I drank from a pint or more every evening, but all this did not so entirely check the distemper. About a fortnight ago, my gums swelled and some small pimples rose in the inside of my mouth which threatened to become ulcers. I then flew to the lemon juice.
(WAVES CRASH. TIMBER SQUEAKS)
THE MIDDLE-AGED ENGLISHMAN: Frequent fumigation with tar, aromatic woods, tobacco, are of great utility and ought to be practised.
THE OLDER ENGLISHMAN: Let him take a pint of spruce beer three times a day.
THE MIDDLE-AGED ENGLISHMAN: Issue brown sugar or molasses instead of butter and cheese,
THE OLDER ENGLISHMAN: A pillow or bags stuffed with hops and laid under the head.
A YOUNGER EDUCATED ENGLISHMAN: The infusion of malt or wort has been found useful in preventing scurvy. But after the scorbutic symptoms have once appeared, worts does not seem adequate to the cure.
THE MIDDLE-AGED ENGLISHMAN: The power lemon juice possesses over this disease is peculiar and exclusive when compared to all the other alleged remedies.
(THE WAVES CONTINUE TO CRASH AND ROAR)
**END**