Folio 33: Table I, A nosological synopsis of the sick book kept during the period...

Folio 33: Table I, A nosological synopsis of the sick book kept during the period of this journal, in conformity with the 30th article of the Surgeon's Instructions.

Folio 34: Table II, A list of men who have received wounds or hurts, which may, either partly or wholly, disqualify them for the Public Service; or subsequently in any way interfere with their earning a livelihood. Walter Marshall, aged 28, Able Seaman, no certificate granted. Contusion of the pelvis gained in a collision between the HMS Assistance and her steam tender HMS Pioneer amongst the ice in Melville Bay, 29 July 1852.

Folios 34-37: Table III, showing the total numbers of cases to the end of the years 1852, 1853 and to May 1854.

Folios 37-42: Surgeon's general remarks. The surgeon comments on the already established ‘salubrity’ of the Arctic climate, only 115 cases on the list in 27 months and only 2 dead. None of the cases attributable to the climate and the total absence of fresh food in the neighbouring lands only began to tell on the crew in the spring of 1854. There were less cases of catarrh and rheumatism than would normally be found in a temperate climate. He gives an account of the voyage: HMS Assistance, HMS Pioneer, HMS Resolute, HMS Intrepid and HMS North Star left Greenhithe on 21 April 1852, touching at Stromness, the Whale Fish Islands, Disco [Disko] Island and the Danish settlement at Uppernavik before arriving at Beechy Island. The Pioneer and the Assistance then sailed up Wellington Channel, where they became trapped in the ice. Travelling parties went out from the ships until September, when the housing was fitted over the ship and preparations made for winter. The sun sank below the horizon on 25 October and did not reappear until 10 February 1853. Classes were established and theatrical entertainments and lectures put on. A daily routine was established for cleaning the ship and exercise. The men were provided with hot water for washing clothes each Tuesday morning, one half of the company washing each week, and on Thursday mornings the Officer’s servants washed the Officer’s clothes. The Sylvester’s stove was lit on 1 October and extinguished on 10 May, about 70 to 80 lbs of coal were allowed for it daily. Condensation was a problem in the first winter but Sir Edward Belcher invented a better system for ventilation before the second winter. Spring travelling resumed in March, preparing a depot on the west of Wellington Channel for further searches in that direction in April. Several men suffered snow blindness and some from oedema, having had to wade in water, one died of scurvy. Searches were also carried out to the North East, one man [Isaac Barnett] later died. The land surrounding their winter quarters of 1852 – 1853 was ‘barren in the extreme’ with very animals and no vegetation. Three ptarmigans were shot and some bear but the men would not eat the bear meat. In July 1853, both ships escaped from the ice until September, when they became trapped again in Wellington Channel, within a hundred yards of the shore, on their way to Beechey Island. They remained there for the winter of 1853 – 1854. There was some vegetation found nearby and traces of deer but the only animals shot were some hare. A similar routine to the previous winter was established but with less washing days to preserve fuel, no plays were produced but a skittle alley was built next to the ship. There were two deaths in January, George Harris of the Pioneer and Isaac Barnett. On 9 February the upper rim of the sun was sighted from the top of a hill for the first time for 102 days. From 22 February sledge parties left to the west to communicate with the Resolute and establish depots in the direction of Melville Island. The cold was so severe that it prevented many of the men from eating or sleeping and they all had frostbite. Two men were left on the North Star at Beechy Island. Scurvy began to appear and many of the men had scars on their faces from repeated frostbite. The lowest temperature was experienced during the night of 13 January 1853, when the temperature fell to minus 62 degrees [Fahrenheit?], though the surgeon comments that since there was no wind it did not feel any different to minus 40 degrees. The surgeon was persuaded to allow William Cutbush to go ahead with the voyage, although he thought him unfit, by the Sergeant and Cutbush himself assuring him that he had never had a day’s illness since joining the Marines. Venesection marks were later found on his arms, he admitted having been bled for syphilis, and there were indications of repeated attacks of pleurisy at post mortem. The other fatal case, Isaac Barnett, had been healthy before his attack of periostitis and was ultimately killed by scurvy. It had been hoped to send him by ship from Beechy Island and after this it was too late for an operation. No post mortem was carried out because of the effect it would have had on the crew. The provisions supplied were excellent, particularly the preserved meats supplied by Hogarth & Co, the vegetables prepared according to the patent of Mr Cholett, the ‘compressed cabbage’ was superior to any vegetable preserved in the ordinary way, the preserved milk and that prepared by Moore’s process, the ale supplied by Messrs Allsopp and Son and the beer brewed on board. Mustard and cress were grown in the hold near the Sylvester stove. Signed D Lyall Surgeon.

Folios 43-58: Meteorological registers for HMS Assistance from April 1852 to May 1854 and for HMS North Star from June 1854 to end September 1854. Recording external temperature and temperature of lower deck three times daily, wind direction and force, ship’s position and comments.