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2 stance, and advised him to administer decoction of sarsaparilla
3 to the patient. There was none on board, however, at that
4 time, but, when we reached the Cape, the surgeon procured
5 a supply, and began to administer it. The impatient colonel,
6 not finding instant relief, again gave vent to his exclamations,
7 telling me that the beverage was of no service ; I persuaded
8 him, however, to persevere ; after a fortnight, he acknowledged
9 himself to be considerably better ; and, in a month, he was
10 completely restored to health. The second case was that of a
11 child of twelve months, which, from difficulty in cutting its
12 teeth, was afflicted with convulsions, could not enjoy any
13 food, became visibly weak, and every one felt certain that
14 the child could not live many days. Leeches, scarification
15 of the gums, warm baths, lenitives, and purgatives, had all
16 been used, to no purpose. On perceiving the desperate state
17 of the child, I inquired of the surgeon whether he had tried
18 blistering, and on finding he had not, advised him to do so ;
19 he accordingly applied two (one behind each ear) and from
20 that moment the spasms ceased, the teething began, and the
21 child grew better.
22 Divine service was regularly performed on board the ship,
23 the captain performing it every Sunday, morning and evening.
24 There were about two hundred persons on board, but, we
25 nevertheless had plenty of provisions ; in fact, we may be
26 said to have fared luxuriously ; for, besides an abundance of
27 necessary food, we had pastry of some kind or other daily,
28 as well as delicious cakes for desert, and many sorts of wines,
29 malt liquor, and spirits. Twice a- week champagne was served
30 at our table. One day we met with not fewer than nine ships,
31 with some of which we entered into communication, inquiring
32 the name of the vessel, whence it came, whither it was bound, what
33 was its cargo, how long it had been on the voyage, and what
34 other vessels it had spoken with on its way. These communi-
35 cations, unless the ship be within speaking distance, are all
36 made by flag-signals, of which every vessel possesses a book,
37 or index. Previously to the day on which we met with the
38 vessels just mentioned, we had not come in sight of any during