Medical journal of HMS Lyra , from 1 January to 31 December 1860 by Henry M Speer,...

ADM 101/128/1B

1860

Medical journal of HMS Lyra, from 1 January to 31 December 1860 by Henry M Speer, Surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed in the Cape of Good Hope Station.

[Note: ADM 101/128, 1A and 1B are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/128].

Folios 1-2: case no 1, John Scott, aged 53, Musician; sick or hurt, rheumatism and general debility, he was entered at the Cape of Good Hope on 1 February 1859 and on 26 of the same month he received a wound of the right cornea from a splinter while working at the lathe and was discharged for particular duty. He was placed on the sick list again on 26 December 1859 complaining of cough, pain of chest with some palpitation, until the 9 January 1860 when he complained much of distention of belly, flatulence and constipation with aggravation of pain of back...his general health improved slowly and as there was a survey on invalids he was brought forward and invalided. During his passage to the Cape of Good Hope he again fell off much in strength, as the ship arrived at Simon's Bay it was advisable to send him to Hospital and discharged to the shore.

Folio 2: case no 2, Daniel Cameron, aged 27, Able Seaman; sick or hurt, syphilis secondary, with rheumatic pains and general catarrhal symptoms; put on sick list 27 January 1860, sent 25 March 1860 to Hospital.

Folio 2: case no 3, Thomas Williams, aged 29, Able Seaman; sick or hurt, orchitis, while pulling in the [gigs?] in Pomony Harbour sprained his back and at the same time pain shooting down groins to testicles; put on sick list 5 November 1859, he left the ship on 25 March 1860 by stealth and remained on shore with several other men, when he was discharged from sick list - he has since deserted.

Folios 2-3: case no 4, Thomas Boughton, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; sick or hurt, sprain while painting on the side of the ship the stage on which he sat gave way; put on sick list 4 January 1860, he was brought forwards for survey on 27 March 1860 and would have been invalided, but the Captain of the Flag ship proposed for the patient’s advantage that he be discharged into the 'Boscawen' where he might be employed at some light duty which would benefit him.

Folios 3-4: case no 5, William West, aged 25, Able Seaman; sick or hurt, dysentery; put on sick list 27 February 1860, sent 10 April 1860 to Hospital.

Folio 4: case no 6, William Hutchinson, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; sick or hurt, syphilis; put on sick list 24 April 1860, sent 25 April 1860 to Hospital.

Folios 4-5: case no 7, William Soaby, aged 23, Able Seaman; sick or hurt, febris remittent; put on sick list 18 february 1860, discharged 11 March 1860 to duty.

Folio 5: case no 8, Mr Charles Bovington Sevecke, aged 23, Acting Paymaster, on 2 June 1860, he accompanied Lieutenant [L A De Wahl?] in the 2nd whaler with the intention of preceeding into the [Kungin?] River with despatches for Dr Livingstone, who was expected to be at the entrance. In attempting to cross the bar the boat was swamped . Mr. Sevecke not being able to swim was supported by Lieutenant De Wahl, but a heavy surf turned him from his grasp and he sunk to rise no more…10 days after the accident happened the body was picked up on the bank of the River near the entrance.

Folio 5: case no 9, George Mason, aged 30, Cooper; sick or hurt, contusion of left foot by having it jammed by a cask; put on sick list 20 September 1860, discharged 7 November 1860 to duty.

Folio 6: case no 10, Mr Richard Winter, aged 33, Assistant Engineer; sick or hurt, febris remittent; put on sick list 30 October 1860, discharged 17 November 1860 to duty.

Folios 6-8: case no 11, William McLeod, aged 25, Blacksmith; sick or hurt, febris remittent; put on sick list 30 October 1860, discharged 22 November 1860 to duty.

Folio 8: case no 12, John Gay, aged 25, Carpenter’s Crew; sick or hurt, febris remittent; put on sick list 22 October 1860, discharged 29 November 1860 to duty.

Folio 9: case no 13, Frederick Payne, aged 30, Able Seaman; sick or hurt, ophthalmia; put on sick list 24 June 1860, discharged 9 July 1860 to duty.

Folios 9-10: case no 14, Philip White, aged 22, Able Seaman; sick or hurt, rheumatism; put on sick list 26 December 1860, sent 26 December 1860 to Hospital at Simon's Bay.

Folio 10: case no 15, William Price, aged 27, Sailmaker; sick or hurt, convulsion; put on sick list 20 November 1860, discharged 26 December 1860 cured.

Folio 10: case no 16, Edward [Wyb?m], aged 17, Boy 1st Class; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 20 October 1860, sent 17 November 1860 to Hospital.

Folios 10-11: case no 17, Lewis Marks, aged 19, Ordinary Seaman a native of Madagascar; sick or hurt, paronychia and amputatio, inflammation of top of middle finger of right hand; put on sick list 5 November 1860, discharged 20 December 1860 to duty.

Folio 11: Table 1 Nosological synopsis during the period of this journal.

Folio 12: Table 2: A list of men who during the period of this journal, have received wounds or hurts which may disqualify them for the public service, or subsequently in any way interfere with their earning a livelihood. (Names and details follow). no on ship’s book list 74, Thomas Boughton, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; hurts on 4 January 1860, while employed painting the ship the stage on which he was sitting gave way, whole weight to be suddenly sustained by right arms the result of which was a severe sprain of right shoulder joint; pension certificate granted on 28 April 1860.

Folios 12-13: Table 3 showing number of cases of diseases, nosologically arranged.

Folios 14-19: Surgeon's general remarks about the boat expedition for the proposed communicating with the Livingstone expedition.

Folios 20-23: Daily sick list.

Folios 24-27: Blank.

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Pay and pensions

Disease

Navy

Medicine

Armed Forces (General Administration)

Africa