Catalogue description Medical journal of the London, convict ship from 1 November 1850 to 28 March 1851 by...

Medical journal of the London, convict ship from 1 November 1850 to 28 March 1851 by James Booth, Surgeon Superintendent, during which time the ship was employed on passage to Van Diemen’s Land. (Described at item level). [Note: ADM 101/255, 1A-1G are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/255].

Folios 1-2: Copy of sick list.

Folios 3-4: case no. 1, Patrick Owen, aged 26, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dyspesia [dyspepsia]; put on sick list 28 December 1850, discharged 18 March 1851 cured.

Folios 4-5: case no. 2, Patrick Walch, aged 18, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, constipatio et dysuria, pain in the bowels with much constipated and no urine passed since he came in the hospital; put on sick list 19 December 1850, discharged 9 January 1851 cured.

Folios 5-6: case no. 3, Martin Murphy, aged 18 ½, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, typhus, with coldness and cramps in the extremities, bowels much confined; put on sick list 29 December 1850, died 2 January 1851 at 11 am.

Folios 6-7: case no. 4, Denis King, aged 21, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, opthalmia, with a speck on right cornea and some turgidity of the vessels; put on sick list 7 January 1851, dicharged 17 February 1851 cured.

Folios 7-8: case no. 5, William Curlett, aged 22, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dysuria, was kicked in the testes by another prisoner which was followed by faintness and vomiting; put on sick list 5 January 1851, dicharged 17 February 1851 cured.

Folio 8: case no. 6, Anne Bourhill, aged 38, Wife of the Guard; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, phthisis pulmonalis, this was a confirm case of disease lungs, according to her husband stated that, she had suffer from cough and shortness of breathing for nearly 7 years – she was five months advance in pregnancy and much emaciated; put on sick list 10 January 1851, died 10 February 1851 at 9.30 pm.

Folios 8-9: case no. 7, John Crough, aged 30, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, eruptio scorbutica, was under treatment as an out patient since 29 January 1851, found to have an eruption over different parts of the surface but chiefly the lower ectremities of a dark red or nearly purple hue, nearly circular and slightly elevated; put on sick list 15 February 1851, sent 20 March 1851 to Hospital at Hobart Town.

Folios 9-10: case no. 8, Alexander McCabe, aged 22, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, abscessus (pollicis), has a deep seated sappuration in the thumb; put on sick list 19 February 1851, sent 20 March 1851 to Hospital at Hobart Town.

Folios 10-11: case no. 9, John Giblin, aged 33, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dysenteria; put on sick list 22 February 1851, died 19 March 1851 at 2.45 am.

Folios 11-12: case no. 10, Patrick Maher, aged 44, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dysenteria; put on sick list 28 February 1851, died 11 March 1851 at 11.15 pm.

Folios 12-13: case no. 11, Charles Laverty, aged 53, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 14 February 1851, sent 20 March 1851 to Hospital at Hobart Town.

Folio 13: case no. 12, Michael Roe, aged 23, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 16 March 1851, sent 20 March 1851 to Hospital at Hobart Town.

Folio 13: case no. 13, John Stewart, aged 20, Prisoner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, ophthalmia; put on sick list 19 March 1851, sent 20 March 1851 to Hospital at Hobart Town.

Folio 13: case no. 14, Anne Macnamara, aged 1 ½, Infant of the Guard; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, marasmus; put on sick list 19 March 1851, died 26 March 1851. Signed: James Booth, Surgeon Superintendent.

Folios 14-15: Blank.

Folio 16: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.

Folio 17: List of men who received wounds or hurts during the period of this journal. No. on ship’s book not stated, Archibald Bourhill, aged 39; pension not granted; nature of hurts, severe burn of foot over instep by boiting chocolate by accident, on 24 December 1850, discharged to duty in 26 days.

Folios 17-18: Surgeon’s general remarks, the total number of souls on board the London were 439 – exclusive of ship’s company 389, comprised of 1 Surgeon Superintendent, 2 Religious Instructors, 30 Pensioner Guards, 68 Families &c and 288 convicts. The convicts were embarked at Kingstown from Mountjoy Prison on 13 & 16 December 1850 all in apparent good health. The ship sailed from Kingstown on 20 December and after 89 days, arrived at Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land on 19 March 1851. During the passage 3 convicts, 1 women and 1 infant died on board, 6 convicts were sent to hospital on 20 March, the remainder disembarked between 26 & 28 March all in healthy condition. The Surgeon’s passing remarks on typhus fever which end fatally in case no. 3 [Martin Murphy], one convict suffered severely of ophthalmia in case no. 4 [Denis King] and case no. 13 [John Stewart], in which the latter was sent to hospital, two cases of diarrhoea were sent to hospital - case no. 11 & case no. 12. The Surgeon stated that the prison in the London is of a good hight and well ventilated, and the chloride of zinc freely used in the holds, air holes, pumps, and c. as well as sprinkled locally as required and with the usual decided advantage. Signed: James Booth, Surgeon Superintendent.

Folio 19: Blank.