Medical journal of HMS Sphinx , from 1 July 1855 to 30 June 1856 by J C Sabben, surgeon,...

ADM 101/120/5B

1855-1856

Medical journal of HMS Sphinx, from 1 July 1855 to 30 June 1856 by J C Sabben, surgeon, during which time the ship was employed in the Black Sea.

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

Folios 1-7: Copy of sick list.

Folios 7-8: case no 1, Richard Chubb, aged 21, Carpenter Crew; taken ill at Yeni Kali; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 7 July 1855, discharged 2 August 1855 to duty.

Folios 8-9: case no 2, William Jones, aged 40, Quarter Master; taken ill at Sevastopol; sick or hurt, hemoptysis; put on sick list 7 August 1855, discharged 12 August 1855 to duty.

Folios 9-10: case no 3, Mr Richards, aged 33, Carpenter; taken ill off Sevastopol; sick or hurt, febris remittent, complained of considerable weakness, loss of appetite and slight fever, he stated that he was invalided in October 1853 from HMS Fury on this station for the same complaint and was in Haslar Hospital previous to his joining this ship; put on sick list 19 August 1855, died 29 August 1855 at 6.40 am.

Folio 11: case no 4, Mr C Gifford, aged 14, Cadet; taken ill off Sevastopol; sick or hurt, contused head; put on sick list 27 August 1855, discharged 31 August 1855 to light duty.

Folios 11-13: case no 5, Mr William Irwin, aged 24, Lieutenant; taken ill at Sevastopol; sick or hurt, dyspepsia; put on sick list 31 August 1855, sent 25 September 1855 to Therapia Hospital.

Folio 13: case no 6, Stephen Farndell, aged 25, Carpenter’s Mate; taken ill off Fairburn; sick or hurt, diarrhoea, was brought on board from the gun boat Boxer, having taken passage from Constantinople, he was left behind whilst on leave a few days previous; put on sick list 15 October 1855, died 16 October 1855 at about 7 am.

Folios 13-14: case no 7, James Kelly, aged 25, Captain Main Top; taken ill at Constantinople; sick or hurt, syphilis, was from HMS Boxer, suffered from phymosis and extensive deep elongated chancre over the right side of the penis; put on sick list 15 October 1855, sent 20 October 1855 to Hospital.

Folio 14: case no 8, John James, aged 20, Royal Marine; taken ill off Kasatch; sick or hurt, syphilis; put on sick list 4 November 1855, sent 8 November 1855 to Hospital.

Folios 15-17: case no 9, Thomas Helson, aged 17, Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class; taken ill at Constantinople; sick or hurt, cholera; put on sick list 2 December 1855, discharged 13 December 1855 to light duty.

Folios 17-18: case no 10, Mr Taylor, aged 28, Assistant Engineer 3rd Class; taken ill off [Sangnra?]; sick or hurt, constipatio icterus; put on sick list 7 December 1855, discharged 26 December 1855 to light duty.

Folios 18-20: case no 11, Mr Cooper, aged 32, Boatswain; taken ill at Athens; sick or hurt, dyspepsia; put on sick list 26 December 1855, sent 8 January 1856 to Malta Hospital.

Folios 20-21: case no 12, Jesse Toby, aged 18, Boy 1st Class; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, vulnus febris diarrhoea, was put on the list with a small wound on the under part of the left foot at the base of the third and fourth toe occasioned by slipping along the deck, it was dressed with simple dressing twice a day and was doing well, until this morning when he complained for the first time of being unwell and debility and want of appetite; put on sick list 6 January 1856, died 21 January 1856 at about 9 pm.

Folios 21-22: case no 13, Mr Wright, aged 30, Paymaster; taken ill at Constantinople; sick or hurt, catarrhus; put on sick list 3 March 1856, discharged 20 March 1856 to duty.

Folios 22-23: case no 14, Phillip Mockford, aged 36, Leading Stoker; taken ill at Kamiesh; sick or hurt, fractured ribs; put on sick list 15 April 1856, discharged 18 May 1856 to light duty.

Folios 23-25: case no 15, Mr Roberts, aged 23, Assistant Engineer; taken ill at Kamiesh; sick or hurt, gonorrhoea opthalmia; put on sick list 18 April 1856, sent 28 April 1856 to Therapia Hospital.

Folios 25-26: case no 16, Charles Parr, aged 20, Royal Marine; taken ill in Kamiesh Bay; sick or hurt, phthisis incipiens; put on sick list 14 May 1856, sent 19 May 1856 to Therapia Hospital.

Folio 26: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.

Folios 27-28: Tables Of medical statistics.

Folios 28-31: Surgeon's general remarks,on case no 3, Mr Richards the ship’s carpenter who died of remittent fever and terminated in peritonitis and Lieutenant Irwin case no 5 who was sent to Therapia Hospital. The Surgeon mentions that during September the ship lay principally off Sevastopol with the Fleet and was present at the fall of the south side. After the taking of the south side the ship was ordered to run along the coast towards Perekop to watch the movements of any troops suddenly leaving the northern forts. During the early part of October the ship was at anchor off Constantinople, but was suddenly recalled to assist in operations against the Russian’s Forts at Fairburn, according to the Surgeon although the ship was more or less engaged with the enemies fortifications until their fall, there were no injury amongst the ship company, but the ship’s riggings were badly cut up. The ship sent a small party of marines and the blue jackets to hold possession of the spit battery for several days and although much exposed they all returned in excellent health.

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Europe and Russia

Weapons

Disease

Navy

Medicine

Armed Forces (General Administration)