Cause of Beriberi on American Whalers.

Abstract

New York City, Oct. 25, 1899. <h3>To the Editor:</h3> —The whaling bark,<i>Greyhound</i>, came into port at New Bedford, Mass., Nov. 4, 1897, with a tale of distress and death. Two of her crew had succumbed to beriberi, and the body of a third, who had died a few days before, was brought into port. There were also five men sick with the disease, in the forecastle. Although the<i>Greyhound</i>had been five years on the cruise, when she touched at St. Helena six months before, all the members of the crew were in good health. The men were not stricken with the disease until about a month before she reached port, while the bark was homeward bound. The third man died two days before reaching port. The captain's wife was on board and nursed the men. She and the captain were not sick. Although the<i>Greyhound</i>was well provisioned,