Medical and surgical journal of the Asia convict ship for 28 August 1824 to 28 February...

ADM 101/4/8

1824-1825

Medical and surgical journal of the Asia convict ship for 28 August 1824 to 28 February 1825 by James Alexander Mercer, Surgeon and Superintendent, during which time the said ship was employed in a voyage from the Cove of Cork to Sydney in New South Wales.

Folio 1: Blank.

Folio 2: List of names; John Brophy, Denis Lynch, Edward Coughlan, john or James Bowe, Thomas Bowe, William White, Robert Rodgers, John Slevin, John Devinish, Michael Cully, Martin Keegan, Thomas Brenan, James Lynch, Barny Maguire, Stephen Geraghty, Charles Rickards.

Folios 3-5: John Gorman, aged 37, convict; disease or hurt, hydrocele of the right testicle. Put on sick list, 8 November 1824. Discharged 25 November 1824 cured.

Folios 5-6: Robert Eager, aged 37, soldier; disease or hurt, venereal disease. Put on sick list, 27 October 1824. Discharged 12 December 1824 cured.

Folios 7-10: Domnick Doherty, aged 21, convict; disease or hurt, frequent purging. Put on sick list, 15 November 1824. Discharged 24 November 1824 cured.

Folio 11: Patrick Brogan, aged 45, convict; disease or hurt, griping pains. Put on sick list, 15 November 1824. Discharged 17 November 1824 cured.

Folio 12: Michael Kearns, aged 19, convict; disease or hurt, griping pains. Put on sick list, 17 November 1824. Discharged 22 November 1824 cured.

Folio 12: John Matthews, aged 19, convict; disease or hurt, griping pains. Put on sick list, 17 November 1824. Discharged 19 November 1824 cured.

Folios 13-19: James Doyle, aged 18, convict; disease or hurt, griping pains. Put on sick list, 22 November 1824. Discharged 9 December 1824 cured.

Folios 19-21: William Collison, aged 24, private of the guard; disease or hurt, swelled feet owing to sun burn and ulcers on the penis. Put on sick list, 4 December 1824. Discharged 17 January 1825 cured.

Folios 22-28: Blank.

Folio 29: a numerical abstract of the medical cases mentioned in the journal.

Folios 29-32: Surgeon's general remarks. John Gorman on whom I operated for cure of hydrocele a few days we sailed. He had been twice operated upon during his captivity (about two years) with only temporary relief in this however he was more fortunate for in 16 or 17 days there was a radical cure, during the operation and cure only one circumstance attracted my attention, that was the very short time he was able to endure the injection, only two minutes when the pain extending to the loins was so severe that it became necessary to let it pass off, the subsequent inflammation did not run too high as I had feared nor was there any thing unpleasant. The first time I went to New South Wales in charge of prisoners I was fortunate in having little sickness yet on death, the second still more so in having little sickness and no deaths but this time consider myself peculiarly fortunate in having only two cases troublesome. We sailed from Cove of Cork on 29 October 1824 with 190 male convicts. Mentions the eating of (folio 31) burgou, and dancing as a form of amusement. When the convicts were landed on 22 February 1825 they were inspected by Sir Thomas Brisbane. States that carpenters, joiners, shoe-makers and tailors are seldom unemployed on board.

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Performing arts

Shipping

Clothing

Asia

Australia and Pacific

Population

Disease

Navy

Armed Forces (General Administration)