In the first half of the 18th century Britain was on her way to becoming the most powerful naval state. In the history of medicine this period was characterized by extremely high morbidity and mortality rates in the Navy. Naval medicine as separate branch of medical science had not formed yet. The medical treatises concerning the organization of medical service of the British seamen, specific naval diseases and their treatment were few and out of date.

This paper will explore the significance of the novel “The Adventures of Roderick Random” (1748) written by the well-known British writer Tobias Smollett (1721-1771), who was the first to address a number of significant issues which later became the subject of great attention of the prominent naval physicians.

The paper will focus on so-called naval chapters that can be considered a kind of pamphlet on the state of medicine in the Navy. The principle aim of the paper is to analyze the ideas of the writer who himself had served as surgeon’s mate and the ideas of outstanding physicians of his age, compare them and prove that the naval chapters present a reliable source in the history of social and naval medicine in Britain.

The point I argue in this paper is that the naval chapters were an original contribution to the process of formation of naval medicine in the 18th century. The case of Smollett is a bright example of how the personality of the enlightened man of letters with medical education and experience, his progressive ideas and great wish to witness the changes in the Navy obtained the recognition of the professional medical circles, drew the public attention to the existing problems and prepared the ground for further positive changes in the health of the Navy.