Moderate Rum Consumption Makes You a Sailor
Originally Posted by
McBTC
No, I agree with you-- opinions on opinions about opinions is pretty worthless. But, the latest science on the matter of moderate alcohol consumption and it's positive relation to longevity, and to the extent to which the supposed relationship believed sort of goes beyond science... which is interesting.
Originally Posted by
McBTC
snopes is skeptical ...
ecember 6, 2010
However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water; 7,400 cannon shot; 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."
-----------6 comments:
Christopher
October 22, 2013 at 7:39 AMIf you run the the numbers provided:
- 209 Days on Cruse.
- 187,700 Total Distilled Spirits Gallons used on cruse.
- 475men on board
This equates to 1.89 Gallons per man per day. The US Navy ration for distilled spirits was .5 Pints.
Thus the author implies that each man aboard Constitution consumed on averag 1.89 Gallons (or 30.25 times his daily ration)a day for the duration of the cruise.
I should also note that even If one accepts the statistics of distilled spirits loaded aboard the Constitution, one certainly need NOT accept that it was due to crew consumption.
Let's hope not
At 1.89 gallons per day at a proof rate between 95 and 114, (47.5% - 57% alcohol by volume) that's .9 - 1.1 gallons of pure alcohol which would probably kill anyone if consumed within 24 hours.