Medical journal of HMS Arrogant , from 1 August 1855 to 1 December 1856 by Daniel...

ADM 101/87/3B

1855-1856

Medical journal of HMS Arrogant, from 1 August 1855 to 1 December 1856 by Daniel Ritchie, Surgeon, during which time the ship was employed in the Baltic, Home Stations and in West Indies. (Described at item level). [Note: ADM 101/87/3, 3A-3B are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/87/3].

Folios 1-11: Copy of daily sick list.

Folios 12-13: case no 1, Barney Phuncley, aged 35, Leading Seaman; taken ill at Gulf of Finland; sick or hurt, fever ending in otitis and threatening arachnitis; put on sick list 24 July 1855, discharged 1 September 1855 to duty.

Folios 13-15: case no 2, Thomas James, aged 35, Leading Seaman; taken ill at Gulf of Finland; sick or hurt, dropsy with enlargement of the liver and albuminuria; put on sick list 1 August 1855, discharged 26 September 1855 to duty.

Folios 15-17: case no 3, George Weir, aged 34, Able Seaman; taken ill at Gulf of Finland; sick or hurt, rheumatism and dysphasia with suspected aneurism; put on sick list 20 August 1855, sent 2 November 1855 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 17-19: case no 4, John Ray, aged 28, Marine; taken ill at Gulf of Finland; sick or hurt, cephalalgia obscure; put on sick list 7 September 1855, sent 2 November 1855 to Haslar Hospital.

Folio 19: case no 5, Edward Toy, aged 29, Marine; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, hemoptysis with phthisis pulmonalis; put on sick list 31 December 1855, sent 7 January 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folio 19: case no 6, William Powell, aged 29, Marine; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, wound of scalp, was admitted into the Royal Infirmary at Portsmouth in a state of coma either the results of gross intoxication or of a wound in the scalp; put on sick list 6 January 1856, discharged 13 January 1856.

Folio 20: case no 7, John Gladdis, aged 22, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, syphilis; put on sick list 14 January 1856, sent 15 January 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 20-21: case no 8, Thomas Cooper, aged 26, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, hypochondriac, by trade a tailor gained admission into Her Majesty's Service about a year ago, stated that the subject suddenly at the age of 19 complained of strange sensations and morbid cerebral impressions; put on sick list 25 January 1856, sent 25 January 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 21-22: case no 9, Thomas Wilkins, aged 23, Able Seaman; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, bronchitis with phthisis pulmonalis; put on sick list 9 February 1856, sent 18 February 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 22-23: case no 10, George Done, aged 19, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, hemoptysis with pulmonary tubercles; put on sick list 19 February 1856, sent 22 February 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 23-24: case no 11, Henry Clarke, aged 36, Marine; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, bronchitis; put on sick list 12 April 1856, sent 17 May 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 24-25: case no 13 [12], John Rauscombe, aged 26, Marine; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, rheumatism; put on sick list 21 April 1856, sent 17 May 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 25-26: case no 13, Alexander Reid, aged 21, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at Portsmouth; sick or hurt, morbus cordis with chronic bronchitis; put on sick list 21 May 1856, sent 7 June 1856 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 26-27: case no 14, Thomas James, aged 36, Quarter Master; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dropsy (albuminuria), has been twice in the sick list with the same complained (the his tory of which see case no 2); put on sick list 26 June 1856, invalided 17 July 1856 at Barbados.

Folios 27-28: case no 15, William Peck, aged 17, Boy; taken ill at Greytown; sick or hurt, fever ending in chronic bronchitis; put on sick list 28 July 1856, sent 16 September 1856 to Port Royal Hospital.

Folios 29-31: case no 16, Henry Gibbs, aged 34, Stoker; taken ill at Greytown; sick or hurt, continued fever or mixed remittent; put on sick list 29 August 1856, sent 16 September 1856 to Port Royal Hospital.

Folio 31: case no 17, John Seymour, aged 26, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at Greytown; sick or hurt, catarrhus and cachexia; put on sick list 15 August 1856, sent 16 September 1856 to Port Royal Hospital.

Folios 32-33: case no 18, Mr William C Beames, aged 17, Midshipman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever, abscess, rheumatism and pericarditis, was reported to have suffered in childhood from chronic disease of the liver, felt himself unwell but “thought it would wear off”, now he complained of headache and pain in right arm, was slightly flushed, skin hot and dry and bowels confined, on the 15 September rested quietly but afterwards became restless and occasionally incoherent, complained very much of pain in the right arm and leg: tumifaction of joint greater: lips of wound continue separated, with discharge. The Surgeon stated that at this time yellow fever cases being in Port Royal Hospital, but this patient suffering being very severe, he reluctantly sent the patient to the Hospital on the same day, the patient's condition subsequently to his arrival at the hospital became more unfavourable a large quantity of unhealthy matter was discharged from his arm and pericarditis set in; put on sick list 8 September 1856, died 22 September 1856.

Folio 33: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.

Folio 34: The following is a list of men who received wounds or hurts during the period of this journal. Robert Cole, aged 21, Private Marine; pension not granted; nature of hurts, the digital phalanx of left thumb crushed between pump handle and the edge of a tub, received on 5 October 1855. Silas Richards, aged 23, Ordinary Seaman; pension not granted; nature of hurts, severe bruised & fractured of middle of left tibia when employed at the dockyard by a cask rolling down a stage on him, received on 7 February 1856. John McSwiney, aged 36, Carpenter's Crew; pension not granted; nature of hurts, abscess under palmar fascia of right hand and sloughing carbuncle laying bare the anterior edge of the trapezius and splenius capitis muscles, received on 29 September 1856.

Folios 34-35: Tables of medical statistics.

Folios 35-39: Surgeon's general remarks. During the period of this journal the ship was employed in very different climates and under very different circumstances, the first 3 months were passed in the Gulf of Finland, the next 7 months at Portsmouth, and the remaining 5 in the voyage to the Tropics. The Surgeon's account on his personal survey and general description of geological formation of, Nargen, Hogland, [Tirkar?], [Biorko?] and [Biscopo?], together with the North shore of the Gulf of Finland. Also includes comments on the ethnography of the Finns, and on germ theory, heat and reproduction.

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Manufacturing

Caribbean

Europe and Russia

Pay and pensions

Children

Disease

Navy

Medicine

Armed Forces (General Administration)