Mémoire sur les avantages qu'il y auroit à changer absolument la nourriture des gens de mer

In this persuasive memorandum, a senior naval physician argues that the salty, meat‑heavy rations traditionally given to sailors are the chief cause of scurvy and other debilitating illnesses at sea. Drawing on a series of recent voyages, he presents concrete examples where crews suffered severe outbreaks of the disease while subsisting on salted provisions, and where a simple shift to rice, dried legumes, prune‑fruit and a touch of honey dramatically restored health. The author stresses that empirical facts, rather than abstract reasoning, should drive any reform of naval diet.

He calls on the highest authorities to adopt a plant‑based regimen for all seamen, noting that the natural foods he recommends are both more wholesome and surprisingly palatable. By highlighting successful experiments on several French vessels, the treatise makes a compelling case that a modest change in provisioning could safeguard the lives of countless sailors and strengthen the fleet’s overall effectiveness.