Medical journal of HMS Phoenix for 22 February to 25 October 1854, by John R Holman,...

ADM 101/112/7B

1854

Medical journal of HMS Phoenix for 22 February to 25 October 1854, by John R Holman, Assistant Surgeon in Charge, during which time the said ship was employed on Arctic Service. (Described at item level).

[Note: ADM 101/112/7, 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/112/7].

Folios 1-4: Copy of daily sick list.

Folio 4: case no 1, Joseph Cawcutt, aged 27, Able Seaman; taken ill at Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, syphilitic sore situated on the prepuce and corona glandis; put on sick list, 12 March 1854, sent 13 March 1854 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 5: case no 2, Henry Stafford, aged 25, Able Seaman; taken ill at Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, catarrh; put on sick list, 10 April 1854, sent 10 April 1854to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 5: case no 3, George Lewis, aged 29, Able Seaman; taken ill at Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, catarrh; put on sick list, 24 April 1854, sent 24 April 1854to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 5: case no 4, Honorable H A Moreton, aged 26, Lieutenant Royal Navy; taken ill off Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, sprain of left ankle in consequence of a fall over the steps leading from the gangway on to the deck; put on sick list, 30 April 1854, sent 2 May 1854 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 6: case no 5, William Underdon, aged 25, Able Seaman; taken ill off Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, fractur of left calvicle, as a result of fall across a plank and pitching heavily on his left shoulder; put on sick list, 30 April 1854, sent 30 April 1854 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folios 6-7: case no 6, John Kinnaird, aged 24, Able Seaman; taken ill off Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, orchitis and secondary gonorrhoea; put on sick list, 27 April 1854, discharged 4 June 1854 to duty.

Folio 7: case no 7, John Hornsey, aged 22, Able Seaman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, syphilis; put on sick list, 9 May 1854, sent 15 May 1854 to sick quarters at Stromness, he was accordingly placed under the care of Dr Hamilton.

Folio 8: case no 8, William Weston, aged 25, Marine; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, syphilis; put on sick list, 9 May 1854, discharged 11 June 1854 to duty.

Folios 9-10: case no 9, John Bidgood, aged 22, Able Seaman; taken ill at Stromness; sick or hurt, gonorrhoea; put on sick list, 11 May 1854, discharged 3 July 1854 to duty, the Surgeon stated that the patient was eventually sent home in HMS Diligence.

Folios 9-10: case no 10, Philip Gallichan, aged 20, Able Seaman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, syphilis; put on sick list, 19 May 1854, discharged 3 July 1854 to duty, this patient was also sent home in HMS Diligence as unfit for exposed Arctic work.

Folios 9-10: case no 11, Edward Mills, aged 24, Able Seaman; taken ill at Holstenberg, Greenland; sick or hurt, direct inguinal hernia of the right side; put on sick list, 14 June 1854, sent 4 July 1854 on board HMS Diligence for passage to England, the Surgeon stated that this man just entered the service for the first time and this being his first ship, taking all the circumstances attending the case into consideration - he did not think him entitled to a pension certificate.

Folios 10-11: case no 12, John Hawkins, aged 41, Marine; taken ill at Lievely - Isle of Disko; sick or hurt, poisoned by chloride of zinc and gastritis, swallowed in mistake for whisky about a gill of chloride of zinc; put on sick list, 21 June 1854, sent 3 October 1853 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich, the Surgeon remarks that the drawbacks attended his recovery are attributed to indiscretion on his own part, he was of an indifferent constitution, and suffered yellow fever in the West Indies and from secondary syphilis, in addition he was utterly regardless of what food he took, and although on the sickness, he indulged, whenever an opportunity occurred.

Folio 12: case no 13, William Weston, aged 25, Marine; sick or hurt, secondary syphilis; put on sick list, 17 July 1854, sent 3 October 1854 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 12: case no 14, William Sweeny, aged 29, Able Seaman; taken ill at Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, contusion; put on sick list, 7 October 1854, sent 23 October 1854 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 13: case no 15, William Stubley, aged 30, Able Seaman; taken ill at Woolwich Dockyard; sick or hurt, accident - over straining of abdominal muscles; put on sick list, 7 October 1854, sent 11 October 1854 to Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich.

Folio 13: case no [16], Albert, aged 26, the Surgeon stated that, this patient was an Esquimaux in the service of the Danish Colonial Government; when engaged in saluting the England Flag, on occasion of the Phoenix entering the Port of 'Lievely' 'Island of Disko-Greenland' sustained extensive injuries of the head, face, hand and left leg from a large quantity (about 8 lbs) of gunpowder exploding in an iron pot which he was carrying. The Surgeon described the treatment adopted and stated that after 17 days from the time of injury, the patient was in a fit state to be removed to 'Jacobshaun' where the Danish surgeon of 'North Greenland' has charge of a hospital.

Folio 14: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.

Folio 15: Edward Mills, aged 24, Able Seaman; pension not granted; nature of hurts, direct ihguinal hernia caused by skylarking on deck, on 13 June 1854.

Folios 15-16: Tables of medical statistics.

Folios 16-17: Surgeon's general remarks. The Admiralty having determined to send relief to the 'Arctic searching expedition' for Sir John Franklin, under Sir Edward Belcher. The Phoenix, had made the voyage to Beechey Island and back last year, was again fixed on as being the steamer best adapted for the service and was commissioned on 22 February 1854 by Captain Inglefield, who was for the second time appointed to command the expedition. According to the Surgeon the Phoenix was well strengthened prior to her first voyage, however it was thought advisable to add additional oak doublings to her sides and defend her bows from the ice by thick iron plates, all the internal arrangement were similar to last year - hot air pipes round lower deck, double skylights and well covered hatches. The ship's complement consisted of 100 officers and men - the latter principally composed of whalers and merchant seaman many of an old hand who were out last year, he also stated that extra warm clothing was supplied and in the charge of the Paymaster in case the ship wintered. The ship was stored with 18 months provisions of all kinds and of best description, the service of a professional baker was also secured. The Surgeon mentioned that he was invested a portion of the sum (£12) allowed for the sick in purchasing necessaries for establishing a sick mess both for the Talbot and Phoenix and at the Orkney. The Surgeon makes passing remarks on cases no 1, case no 2, case no 3, case no 4, case no 5, case no 12, case no 14, and case no 15, also the case of Esquimaux. Signed: John R Holman, Assistant Surgeon in Charge.

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Clothing

Manufacturing

Travel and tourism

Caribbean

Europe and Russia

Pay and pensions

Weapons

Polar

Disease

Food and drink

Navy

Americas

Merchant seaman

Medicine

Armed Forces (General Administration)