Catalogue description Medical journal of HMS Cracker , from 1 January to 31 December 1870 by Alexander...

Medical journal of HMS Cracker, from 1 January to 31 December 1870 by Alexander Turnbull, Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed in the South East Coast of American Station.

[Note: ADM 101/289, 1A-1B are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/289].

Folio 1: Printed instruction on completing the journal and alphabetical sick list.

Folio 2: case no 1, John Elms, aged 27, Plumber's Mate; taken ill at Cape Frio Bay; sick or hurt, poisoning? Fish, suffered from great flaculent distension, colic and slight diarrhoea; put on sick list 27 January 1870, discharged 29 January 1870 to duty, the Surgeon noted that another member of his mess - Joseph J H Fruin, Able Seaman, was similarly affected at the same time thought less severely.

Folios 2-3: case no 2, George Millard, aged 46, Musician; taken ill at Monte Video; sick or hurt, catarrh; put on sick list 18 October 1870, discharged 28 October 1870 to duty.

Folios 3-4: case no 3, Edward Legg, aged 30, Caulker's Mate; taken ill at Maldonado; sick or hurt, catarrh; put on sick list 20 October 1870, discharged 8 November 1870 to light duty.

Folio 4: case no 4, William E Gawn, aged 22, Ward Room Cook; taken ill at Maldonado; sick or hurt, catarrh; put on sick list 21 October 1870, discharged 1 November 1870 to duty.

Folios 4-5: case no 5, William Armitage, aged 30, Leading Stoker; taken ill at Maldonado, Rio de la Plata; sick or hurt, catarrh; put on sick list 25 October 1870, discharged 15 November 1870 to duty.

Folios 5-7: case no 6, George Hussey, aged 25, Marine; taken ill at Monte Video; sick or hurt, syphilis secondary, was contracted primary syphilis at Portsmouth in 1865 and treated at Haslar Hospital where he stated he had secondary eruption over the body; put on sick list 16 October 1870, discharged 9 January 1870 to light duty.

Folios 8-12: Blank.

Folio 13: Tables showing ship's movements during 19 January to 31 October 1870, between Brazil, Rio de la Plata, Rio Parana and Rio Uruguay.

Folio 13: List of men who received wounds or hurts during the period of this journal. no on the ship's book 52, George William Knight, aged 35, Boatswain's Mate; pension granted on 24 January 1871; nature of hurts, scald of forearms and thumb by explosion of boiling pitch, on 31 December 1870.

Folio 14: Tables of medical statistics.

Folio 15: Blank.

Folios 16-24: Surgeon's general remarks, on ventilation, accommodation on board, and the movements of the Cracker. The Surgeon notes regarding the outbreak of yellow fever at Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres in 1869-70, he also raises the question of whether yellow fever could break out far inland. The Surgeon's notes on preparation of extraction Carnis Liebig [Meat extract invented by Baron Justus Von Liebig]. Included in the general remarks is a sketch plan of Rio de Janeiro Harbour - showing the position of the dock, Man of War, and merchant ship at anchor [with scale].

Folios 25-27: Alphabetical sick list.

Folios 28-30: Blank.