Folio 27: John Slattery, aged 1; disease or hurt, diarrhoea, had suffered on the...

ADM 101/77/8/3

1825

Folio 27: John Slattery, aged 1; disease or hurt, diarrhoea, had suffered on the passage to Quebec and it returned on the steamboat. Put on sick list, 10 July 1825, at La Chine. Died, 15 July 1825.

Folios 27-28: John Kealehan, aged 28; disease or hurt, violent headache and pains all over him, languor, lassitude, nausea and vomiting, skin burning hot. Put on sick list, 10 July 1825, at La Chine. Discharged cured, 24 July 1825.

Folio 28: Helen Kealehan, aged 28, Married; disease or hurt, languor, lassitude restlessness, headache, nausea and vomiting. Put on sick list, 16 July 1825, at La Chine. Discharged cured, 29 July 1825. Had been attending her husband while sick.

Folios 28-29: Dennis Kealehan, aged 18; disease or hurt, dull headache, languor and lassitude, severe cough and pain of heart under the sternum, restless and sleeps ill, much thirst, tongue white, throat sore. Put on sick list, 17 July 1825, at La Chine. Discharged cured, 30 July 1825.

Folios 30-41: Blank folios.

Folio 42: Abstract of the preceding journal, being a summary of all cases contained therein. Continued fevers, 14, of which, 2 were sent to the hospital; Fluxes, 1; Wounds and Accidents, fracture of the clavicle, 1; Pulmonic inflammation, 3; Constipation, 2; Colica, 1; Menorrhagia, 1; Abortion, 1; Hepatic complaints, 2; Cutaneous eruption, 1, who died on board; Cholera, 1, who died on return from hospital; Diarrhoea, 5, of which, 1 died on board; Dropsical, 1, who died on board; Opthalmia, 1;Marasmus, 1, who died on board.

Folios 42-43: Surgeon's general remarks. There were several other cases on the voyage which were not worth recording in the journal. Chiefly these were bowel complaints; diarrhoea among the children, from change and too full diet; constipation and slight feverishness among the men and the women. There was some catarrh and pulmonary irritation. At La Chine some of the children had chin cough [whooping cough] which they probably caught from Surgeon Powers' party, of the Elizabeth, who were in the barracks when they arrived. Communication between the parties was forbidden but the emigrants disregarded the rule, thinking that the sooner the children got it and got over it, the better. There were some slight cases of cholera among the children and feverishness among the women as a result of exposure in the batteaux. Some of the men were feverish from being in the river one minute and exposed to the hot sun the next. The most sickly times were in June, at sea, when there were 20 on the sick list and several trifling complaints, the consequence of stormy weather and on arrival at La Chine. The illnesses at La Chine were the consequence of the great heat, temperatures of 88 to 96 Fahrenheit, and indulging in milk diet, beer and unripe fruit. The fatigue, privations and exposure on the journey up the river had no real injurious effects, probably because of the state of excitement and the constant exercise and 'the pleasing prospects of plenty and happiness' all around them. The vaccine provided by the Navy Board failed in every instance. It had probably been kept too long and was deposited between two sheets of plane glass and wrapped in a single sheet of paper, insufficient to keep it properly. The quantity was minute and it was difficult to see any of it on the glass. Most of the journey was in very rough weather, prevailing winds coming from the north west with a lot of rain and thick fogs. In the river about 200 miles below Quebec the ship got on shore in a thick fog and was there for 18 Hours. Some of the emigrants became very unruly and order was maintained by the officers and other emigrants, saving the ship from total wreck. The Surgeon suggests some changes to the list of medicines supplied for emigrant ships. There is a long list of medicine to be left out altogether and some that can be reduced in quantity. Arrow root should be substituted for sago, since the emigrants do not know how to prepare it, and even when shown, do not take the trouble. Soap should also be supplied. Medicines and stores unused on the voyage are kept in the colony and some not needed on the voyage may afterwards become in short supply. Signed, William Burnie Surgeon Royal Navy.

Folio 44: Blank folio.

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