Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/485

Rh 29th. Three more of the people died this day.

30th. For the first time I found myself better and slept some time, which my continual pains had never suffered me to do before notwithstanding the opiates which were constantly administered. One person only died to-day, but so weak were the people in general that, officers and men included, there were not more than eight or nine could keep the deck; so that four in a watch were all they had.

31st. This day I got out of my bed in good spirits and free from pain, but very weak; my recovery had been as rapid as my disease was violent; but to what cause to attribute either the one or the other we were equally at a loss. The wind, which went to E. and S.E. yesterday, blew to-day in the same direction, so we had little reason to doubt its being the true trade, a circumstance which raised the spirits of even those who were most afflicted with the tormenting disease which now raged with its greatest violence.

1st February. Fine brisk trade kept up our spirits and helped to raise me fast: two of the people died to-day, nevertheless.

2nd. Breeze continued to-day: the surgeon began to think that the rapid progress of the disease was checked by it, but declared at the same time that several people were still almost without hopes of recovery.

3rd. Some of the people who were least affected began now to show signs of amendment, but two of the worst died notwithstanding.

6th. One more died to-day. Those of our people who were not very bad before the 1st of this month had now almost universally recovered; but there were still several in the ship who at that time were very bad. These remained unalterably the same, neither becoming better nor worse. Throughout the whole course of this distemper medicine has been of little use, the sick generally proceeding gradually to their end without a favourable symptom, till the change of weather instantaneously stopped in a manner the malignant quality of the disease.

11th. One more of our people died.