Medical journal of HMS Sphinx , from 5 June 1854 to 30 June 1855 by J C Sabben, surgeon,...

ADM 101/120/5A

1854-1855

Medical journal of HMS Sphinx, from 5 June 1854 to 30 June 1855 by J C Sabben, surgeon, during which time the ship was employed in the Baltic and Black Sea.

[Note: ADM 101/120/5, 5A-5B are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/120/5].

Folios 1-11: Copy of sick list.

Folio 11: case no 1, Robert Porter, aged 19, Private Marine; taken ill at Portsmouth Harbour; sick or hurt, scarlatina; put on sick list 10 June 1854, sent 10 June 1854 to Haslar Hospital.

Folio 12: case no 2, Robert Wooldridge, aged 29, Gunner’s Mate; taken ill at Spithead; sick or hurt, pleuritis; put on sick list 8 July 1854, discharged 20 July 1854 to duty.

Folio 12: case no 3, Tn. Chooris, aged 22, French Private; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, gonorrhoea; put on sick list 19 July 1854, discharged 24 July 1854 to duty.

Folios 12-14: case no 4, John Roots, aged 17, Boy 1st Class; taken ill off Faro; sick or hurt, palpitaion; put on sick list 28 July 1854, sent 12 September 1854 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 14-16: case no 5, Francis Leon, aged 22, French Private; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, erysipelas; put on sick list 25 July 1854, discharged 12 August 1854 to duty.

Folio 16: case no 6, Alfred Wooven, aged 16, Boy 2nd Class; taken ill at Aland Isle; sick or hurt, febris remittent; put on sick list 2 August 1854, discharged 12 August 1854 to duty.

Folio 17: case no 7, William Stanley, aged 47, Able Seaman; taken ill at Aland Isle; sick or hurt, epilepsia hemoptysis; put on sick list 3 August 1854, discharged 16 August 1854 to duty.

Folios 17-19: case no 8, Eli Strugnell, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, pleuri pneumonia; put on sick list 20 August 1854, sent 7 September 1854 to Deal Hospital.

Folios 19-20: case no 9, Frederick Beckett, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, phlegmon; put on sick list 12 August 1854, discharged 14 September 1854 to duty.

Folio 21: case no 10, William J Clifford, aged 42, Captain; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fractura fibula et tibia; put on sick list 4 September 1854, sent 10 September 1854 to Haslar Hospital.

Folios 21-22: case no 11, Honorable H Chetwynd, aged 24, Lieutenant; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, hepatitis chronic; put on sick list 24 September 1854, discharged 11 October 1854 to duty.

Folios 22-23: case no 12, John Roberts, aged 22, Mate; taken ill off Sevastopol; sick or hurt, hemoptysis; put on sick list 22 October 1854, discharged 16 November 1854 to duty.

Folios 23-24: case no 13, Joseph Edwards, aged 30, Gun Room Cook; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, hemoptysis; put on sick list 26 October 1854, discharged 14 November 1854 to duty.

Folio 24: case no 14, Joseph Edwards, aged 30, Gun Room Cook; taken ill at Cherson; sick or hurt, hemoptysis; put on sick list 20 November 1854, died 20 November 1854.

Folios 24-25: case no 15, Honorable H Chetwynd, aged 24, Lieutenant; taken ill at Cherson; sick or hurt, hepatitis chronic; put on sick list 22 November 1854, invalided 12 December 1854.

Folios 25-26: case no 16, John Collins, aged 26, Boatswain’s Mate; taken ill off Bourgos; sick or hurt, hemoptysis; put on sick list 17 March 1855, discharged 21 March 1855 to light duty.

Folios 26-29: case no 17, Christopher Hope, aged 21, Engineer’s Steward; taken ill at [Sisopolis?]; sick or hurt, pneumonia; put on sick list 8 April 1855, discharged 15 May 1855 to light duty.

Folios 29-30: case no 18, John Reeves, aged 21, Gun Room Cook; taken ill at [Sisopolis?]; sick or hurt, ulcus; put on sick list 14 April 1855, discharged 9 May 1855 to duty.

Folios 31-32: case no 19, Arthur Allan, aged 23, Captain’s Steward; taken ill at Balaklava; sick or hurt, cholera; put on sick list 8 May 1855, discharged 17 May 1855 to light duty.

Folio 32: case no 20, James Johnson, aged 35, Able Seaman; taken ill at Yenikali; sick or hurt, fractured ribs; put on sick list 3 June 1855, discharged 4 June 1855 to Royal Albert.

Folio 32: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.

Folios 33-34: Tables of medical statistics.

Folios 34-38: Surgeon’s general remarks. Joined the ship at the latter end of May 1854 previous to this he was a supernumerary surgeon at the Royal Hospital at Haslar. The Surgeon mentions that even though the ship’s company were physically sound, two or three able seamen who entered on board the ship were obliged to be invalided namely George [Harman?] and William Stanley. He also remarks on (case no 1) Robert Porter, case no 2, case no 5, and Captain Clifford (case no 10). The ship received orders to take 420 Russians prisoners from HMS St Vincent to Sheerness prior to the ship leaving the Downs for Portsmouth. According to the Surgeon these prisoners suffered much from cholera on their passage to England, in which previous to their reception he had the whole of the upper and main deck of the ship sprinkled with chloride of zinc. On the ship’s arrival in Portsmouth Harbour she was ordered to refit immediately to join the Fleet under Admiral Dundas off Sevastopol and on the 13 September the ship took departure having on board nearly 250 tons of ordinance stores, the ship made a passage until off Cape Matapan where the ship met with a very severe gale forcing the ship to take shelter in a bay called [Venetian?]. The Surgeon describes the geographical nature and soil of this place. The ship reached the fleet off Sevastopol on the morning of the 17 October, then obtained permission to engage the enemy at 1.30 pm, in which continually and constantly under fire until 6.20 pm, fortunately although in the thickest of the fight the ship escaped all injury, losing but one boy name Edward Tracey who was drowned by the swamping of a gig at the stern. The Surgeon also mentioned that previous to the action he made suggestions and plans to the Captain to which he immediately acceded. Included in the general remarks are details of the surgical preparations before action at Sevastopol during the Crimean War.

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