Conditions were horrendous aboard most British naval vessels at the time. Scurvy and other diseases ran rampant, killing more seamen each year than all other causes combined, including combat.

Black bulls, and bearded goats on altars lie; / And clouds of ſav'ry ſtench involve the ſky.

These are ponderous flat stones with long ropes at each end, by which the stones are slidden about, to and fro, over the wet and sanded decks; a most wearisome, dog-like, galley-slave employment.

The move marks a big step towards “precision medicine”, which offers more efficient therapies that are tailored to individual patients.