Catalogue description Folio 25: William Burbury, aged 29, Prisoner; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick...

Folio 25: William Burbury, aged 29, Prisoner; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick list, 26 November 1838. Discharged, 10 December 1838. Formerly a soldier of the 29th Regiment, he had been in the sick list with scorbutic symptoms early in the voyage and received the full scorbutic diet but the symptoms returned. After a 2 or 3 fresh meals 'he did not look like the same person'. The scorbutic diet is described.

Folio 26: Charles Oliver, aged 35, Prisoner; disease or hurt, intermittent fever. Put on sick list, 8 December 1838. Discharged, 18 December 1838. He had been a blacksmith and was 'of stout and healthy appearance'.

Folios 27-28: James Targett, aged 19, Prisoner; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick list, 14 December 1838. Sent to the hospital, 18 December 1838. 'Of delicate appearance', he had been attacked with scorbutus a couple of months previously and had been relieved 'by the administration of the nitre and lime juice with the most generous diet that could be given'. The surgeon notes that he saw him on Christmas Day and he was much better.

Folio 28: 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.

Folios 29-31: Surgeon's general remarks. The guard came on board early on the 7 July at Deptford and they sailed immediately for Portsmouth, arriving on 17 July. The surgeon inspected prisoners on the York and Leviathan hulks, objecting to several who had recently had small pox which leaves behind a predisposition to inflammatory complaints. On 19 July, 240 male convicts were embarked and spoken to on good conduct and punishment, and read the rules which were posted in the prison. Money and valuable objects were to be left in the care of the surgeon and all 'cutting instruments' given to the mates. Any concealed knives discovered later to be thrown overboard. The prisoners were issued bedding and utensils. They received orders to sail on 26 July but were unable to leave until 31 July because of unfavourable winds. They were then driven into Plymouth and could not leave there until 8 August. One of the prisoners, H N Disney, had been recommended as a master for the school and organised the prisoners into classes and appointed masters. Many of the prisoners 'did not know the Lord's Prayer, ten commandments; or how many commandments there were'. By the end of the voyage the surgeon states there were no more than 3 who did not know the church catechism. The surgeon describes the system of religious education and examinations followed on board. Rear Admiral Hawker supplied a number of copies of a manual of family prayer compiled by C J Bloomfield and D D Bishop of London. The prisoners were formed into 3 divisions and exercised each day walking 4 miles round the long boat while the band played. In the early part of the voyage there were headaches from constipation, phlegmonous tumours and slight febrile attacks, all due to the change of diet, weather and sea life. Approaching the tropics, pimples, boils, furuncule, cutaneous, efflorescences, excoriations, prickly heat and ringworm prevailed. Cleanliness and 'a correct condition of the alimentary canal' and various remedies were used to combat them. On 3 October, George Carter had an attack of phrenitis which proved fatal, his case is recounted in brief. There were several cases of scurvy, though not as many as in the surgeon's previous voyage and chiefly among the army deserters who had undergone punishment. They were treated with lime juice and nitre, 1ounce of nitre to a pint, and a few drops of oil of peppermint in a small quantity of wine, with sugar to make it palatable. The mixture was diluted with water and given in doses of 3 or 4 ounces, with seldom more than 8 ounces given in a day to minimise the effect on the bowels. As soon as symptoms were detected the sufferer was put on the scorbutic diet list; a pint of chocolate at 6am, with an ounce of lime juice and an ounce of sugar, and porridge, a pint of thick gruel with a gill of wine at midday, porridge again at 4pm, chocolate at 6pm and gruel with wine in it at 8pm. They also had between 1 and 3 gills of wine during the day and some were given cinchona bark, others sulphate of quinine. Several other treatments for the various symptoms are also described. Strict attention was paid to cleanliness and when the weather permitted the prisoners bathed every day and were afterwards rubbed dry with a towel, which each man who had money was made to buy before leaving port. The prisons were also cleaned and kept dry and ventilated. The constabulary force under H N Disney was active and impartial. The ship was obliged to call at Hobart by a shortage of water and strong winds from the west making it likely that arrival at Sydney would be delayed. The guard were exchanged with some of the 28th Regiment, who had just arrived on the Augusta Jesse, the 51st Regiment who formed the guard on board the Portsea being stationed in Van Diemen's Land. They left Hobart Town on 11 December and arrived at Sydney 18 December 1838. On 22 December 239 prisoners were landed, it had been 164 days since the embarkation of the guard. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary and Captain McChan, the principal superintendent of convicts, were pleased at the health of the convicts and the orderly way in which they landed. The surgeon expresses his satisfaction with their conduct and trusts 'from the moral principles instilled' in them they will follow the example of other on board the Portsea. Signed Thomas Bell (c) Surgeon and Superintendent.

Folio 32: Loose nosological synopsis from an unidentifiable journal.