Medical journal of HMS Firebrand for 29 April to 31 December 1859 by William F. Noott,...

Medical journal of HMS Firebrand for 29 April to 31 December 1859 by William F. Noott, Surgeon, during which time the ship was employed on special service.

Folios 1-6: case no 1, Mr Robert Lucas, aged 38, Paymaster; taken ill at Gibraltar; sick or hurt, gout and rheumatism, in consequence of exposure to change of temperatures and of moist atmosphere; put on sick list, 4 July 1859, discharged 3 August 1859 to Hospital at Plymouth, returned 19 August 1859 to the Ship.

Folios 6-10: case no 2, Samuel Hurdle, aged 18, Boy 1st Class; taken ill at Gibraltar; sick or hurt, continued fever, typhoid type, produced by exposure to fog and moisture at night; put on sick list, 10 September 1859, discharged 4 October 1859 to Hospital at Malta, he returned to the ship at his own request to proceed home on the eve of the ship's departure from Malta.

Folios 11-12: case no 3, John Flello, aged 17, Boy 1st Class; taken ill at off Vigo; sick or hurt, periostitis, inflammation and suppuration beneath the periosteum of the tibia, supposed connection with the poison of ague and also with change of the mode of life and diet; put on sick list, 22 July 1859, discharged 3 August 1859 to Hospital at Plymouth.

Folios 12-15: case no 4, John Shaw, aged 26, Gunner Royal Marine Artillery; taken ill at off Cape St. Vincent; sick or hurt, congestion of spleen, general disturbance of circulation in the abdominal vessels occasioned by the relaxing influence of a hot climate; put on sick list, 19 July 1859, discharged 9 August 1859 to duty.

Folios 15-16: case no 5, John Ahearn, aged 21, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, contusion and concussion, fell from the mizen-mast upon the margin of the hatchway - a distance of about 30 feet; put on sick list, 2 September 1859, discharged 11 November 1859 to duty.

Folios 16-17: case no 6, William Parker, aged 28, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill in Plymouth Sound; sick or hurt, abscess; put on sick list, 30 August 1859, discharged 14 September 1859 to Hospital at Gibraltar.

Folio 17: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.

Folio 18: List of men who received wounds or hurts during the period of this journal. No on the ship's book 45, Thomas Beckett, aged 25, Caulker's Mate; pension granted on 9 July 1859; nature of hurts, inguinal hernia on right side, on 8 July 1859. No on the ship's book 61, William Baker, aged 33, Leading Seaman; pension not granted; nature of hurts, contusion of spine in lumbar space, on 29 July 1859. No on the ship's book 54, John Ahearn, aged 21, Ordinary Seaman; pension not granted; nature of hurts, severe contusion of the left wrist and concussion of the brain, on 2 September 1859. No on the ship's book 67, Richard Palmer, aged 35, Boatswain's Mate; pension not granted; nature of hurts, contusion of left testicle followed by chronic disease of the gland, on 6 December 1859.

Folios 18-20: Tables of medical statistics.

Folio 21: Table of meteorological conditions.

Folio 22: Blank.

Folios 23-25: Table of classification of the complement of the ship, with notes concerning the mode of ventilation and internal structure of the ship.

Folios 26-35: Surgeon's general remarks. The Firebrand was commissioned at the end of April, according to the Surgeon the health of the men was on the whole very good, there was perfect immunity from epidemic, owing to the state of the vessel itself and the circumstances in which the ship's company have been placed namely, weather, employments, diet and general routine, have conducted to the maintenance of an uninterrupted efficiency during the period that the Firebrand was employed in special service and had made three voyages to and from the Mediterranean. The Surgeon mentioned the comparative influence of various conditions such as the inevitable influence occasioned by the ship's movement, the state of the vessel, the employment of the crew, the diet and the clothing of the ship's company, in maintaining good health and in producing illness. Also included in the general remarks are notes on accommodation and ventilation in a small ship, passing remarks on cases mentioned in the journal - fever (case no 2), gout (case no 1), periostitis (case no 3), and a case of apoplexy which occurred in the 45 year old patient named William Vaugham, no 94.

Folios 35-37: Daily sick list.

Folios 38-40: Blank.

Folios 41-49: Copy of daily sick list.

Topics

Clothing

Labour

Caribbean

Europe and Russia

Pay and pensions

Disease

Navy

Medicine

Armed Forces (General Administration)