Catalogue description Folios 24-26: Surgeon's general remarks. There were no epidemics or endemic diseases and...

Folios 24-26: Surgeon's general remarks. There were no epidemics or endemic diseases and only a few cases have been selected for the journal. There was only death, of an infant and 'that was more owing to the vile obstinacy of its mother than to anything else'. One child was born on the voyage. Most of the prisoners were young and healthy, some middle aged and none very old. 'They were exceedingly troublesome but not half so hardened as many of the Englishwomen brought out'. The surgeon recommends the provision of a place for solitary confinement on all convict ships, 'it should be very strong and as far out of reach of human voices as possible, in the recess of the hold, with small perforations in the side of the bulkhead to let in air'. The surgeon's chief efforts were in keeping the women from quarrelling and maintaining their health. To these ends, they were kept on deck all day with the exception of the two schools. There was difficulty in keeping the children at school because their mother's believed instruction would make them sick. Some of the mothers were punished for this. The children improved far more than they would have on shore because the surgeon kept them constantly at their school work. The young women were taught in the fore prison and got the rudiments of education very rapidly when they were assiduous. One woman of 17 is mentioned, but not named, was punished by imprisonment and promised a bad character by the surgeon for not attending school. She became a good student, learning to write in 10 days and was given a fair character and went to work for a clergyman. The surgeon comments that the Irish learn quickly and 'much may be done with them by way of management and a little coercion' and are less hardened in crime than the English or Scottish. He recommends oatmeal instead of chocolate, which male and female prisoners dislike. Signed O Pineo, Surgeon Superintendent.