Medical and Surgical journal of Her Majesty's hired convict ship Blenheim for 23...

ADM 101/12/4

1839

Medical and Surgical journal of Her Majesty's hired convict ship Blenheim for 23 April to 8 October 1839 by Mr William McDowell, Surgeon, during which time the said ship was been employed in conveying convicts to New South Wales.

Folios 1-2: Daily sick list of the Convict Ship Blenheim, (names and details follow):

• Folio 1: James Punter, aged 30, Soldier; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 1 May 1839. Discharged, 7 May 1839.
• Folio 1: Jonathan Ridden, aged 19, Convict; disease or hurt, ulcer. Put on sick list, 11 May 1839. Discharged when landed, 3 October 1839.
• Folio 1: Henry Knight, aged 22, Soldier; disease or hurt, syphilis. Put on sick list, 14 May 1839. Discharged, 23 July 1839.
• Folio 1: George Baker, aged 19, Soldier; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 14 May 1839. Discharged, 22 May 1839.
• Folio 1: Peter Maloy, aged 17, Convict; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 10 June 1839. Discharged, 18 July 1839.
• Folio 1: James Maginness, aged 56, Convict; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 20 July 1839. Died, 2 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Martin Graham, aged 31, Convict; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 23 July 1839. Died, 26 July 1839.
• Folio 1: Michael Farrely [Ferrily], aged 31, Convict; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 31 July 1839. Died, 6 August 1839.
• Folio 1: William Kinslear, aged 28, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 3 August 1839. Discharged, 5 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Jonathan Faulkner, aged 19, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 3 August 1839. Discharged, 6 August 1839.
• Folio 1: James Punter, aged 30, Soldier; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 8 August 1839. Discharged, 16 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Thomas Toole, aged 31, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 16 August 1839. Discharged, 18 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Daniel Delaney, aged 28, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 17 August 1839. Discharged, 18 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Richard Dooley, aged 24, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 17 August 1839. Discharged, 18 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Michael Flanagan, aged 23, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 27 August 1839. Discharged, 31 August 1839.
• Folio 1: Edward Lawler, aged 21, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 29 August 1839. Discharged, 1 September 1839.
• Folio 1: James Feeney, aged 24, Convict; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 4 September 1839. Discharged, 30 September 1839.
• Folio 1: James Benson, aged 30, Convict; disease or hurt, cynanche tonsillaris [pharyngea]. Put on sick list, 6 September 1839. Died, 11 September 1839.
• Folio 2: James Gorman, aged 26, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 6 September 1839. Discharged, 9 September 1839.
• Folio 2: James Johnson, aged 16, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 14 September 1839. Discharged, 17 September 1839.
• Folio 2: James Connors, aged 45, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 14 September 1839. Discharged, 18 September 1839.
• Folio 2: Jonathan Martin, aged 33, Convict; disease or hurt, rheumatism. Put on sick list, 18 September 1839. Discharged, 26 September 1839.
• Folio 2: Morgan [Maker], aged 22, Convict; disease or hurt, ulcer. Put on sick list, 19 September 1839. Discharged, 30 September 1839.
• Folio 2: James Shepphard, aged 25, Convict; disease or hurt, catarrh. Put on sick list, 20 September 1839. Discharged, 26 September 1839.
• Folio 2: William Slack, aged 17, Convict; disease or hurt, rheumatism. Put on sick list, 22 September 1839. Discharged, 28 September 1839.
• Folio 2: Jonathan Rooney, aged 15, Convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 26 September 1839. Discharged, 30 September 1839.

Folios 3-5: James Punter, aged 30, Soldier; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 1 May 1839, at sea. Discharged, 7 May 1839.

Folio 5: John Ridden, aged 19, Convict; disease or hurt, ulcer. Put on sick list, 11 May 1839, at Kingstown [Dun Laoghaire], Dublin. Discharged when landed, 23 October 1839. Embarked with the ulcer, which needed dressing every day of the voyage.

Folios 5-7: Henry Knight, aged 22, Soldier; disease or hurt, syphilis. Put on sick list, 14 May 1839, at sea. Discharged, 23 July 1839. Had been ill a considerable time before applying to the surgeon. Also had a gonorrhoea discharge from his urethra. He had denied any 'connection with the girls' before embarking having previously been turned down for transportation because of a similar infection.

Folios 7-10: George Baker, aged 19, Soldier; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 14 May 1839, Kingstown Harbour [Dun Laoghaire], Dublin. Discharged, 22 May 1839.

Folios 10-13: Peter Maloy, aged 17, Prisoner; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 10 June 1839, at sea. Discharged, 10 July 1839.

Folios 13-17: James Maginnes, aged 56, Convict; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 20 July 1839, at sea. Died, 2 August 1839. Treated with arrow root supplied by the Irish Government.

Folios 18-19: Martin Graham, aged 31, Convict; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 23 July 1839. Died, 26 July 1839. Embarked in a very emaciated and debilitated condition, having tried to avoid transportation by a number of tricks, including refusing food, in the county jail and at Kilmainham.

Folios 19-21: Michael Ferrily [Farrely], aged 30, Convict; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 31 July 1839, at sea. Died, 6 August 1839, at Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope.

Folios 21-23: James Feeney, aged 24, Convict; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 4 September 1839, at sea. Discharged, 30 September 1839. Had been ill some days, although the surgeon inspected the prison every day, before being forcibly taken to the surgeon by his berthmates. He was 'stupid and insensible in a great measure' but his berthmates considered his illness to be due to fear because of the very bad weather. Was convalescent from 23 September but continued on hospital diet until 30 September.

Folios 23-25: Joseph [James] Benson, aged 30, Convict; disease or hurt, cynanche tonsillaris et [pharyngea]. Put on sick list, 6 September 1839, at sea. Died, 11 September 1839. He was not able to open his mouth wide enough for the surgeon to examine the interior but claimed to feel improved on 8 September.

Folio 25: A nosological synopsis of the sick book kept during the period of this journal, in conformity with the 30th article of the Surgeon's Instructions.

Folio 26: A list of men who have received wounds or hurts during the period of the journal. The form is blank.

Folios 26-27: Surgeon's general remarks. There were 200 convicts embarked, all in good health but one [Martin Graham] who had refused victuals and pretended sickness to avoid transportation and had succeeded twice before. The dysentery, in the surgeon's opinion, was due to the bad water they had on board which became '[glairy] and thick emitting a most offensive putrid effluvia almost intolerable' and caused many bowel complaints. Fresh water and provisions were obtained at the Cape and ended the progress of the disease. The fatal case of cynanche tonsillaris [Joseph or James Benson] was produced by cold. The two cases of synochus were the only other serious illnesses.

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Shipping

Weapons

Australia and Pacific

Ireland

Children

Disease

Food and drink

Navy

Armed Forces (General Administration)

Prisons