Catalogue description Folios 12-14: Surgeon's general remarks. The Clyde had been built in North America and...

Folios 12-14: Surgeon's general remarks. The Clyde had been built in North America and was refitted for carrying convicts at Liverpool. After repeated inspections and returning a few, they sailed on 11 May 1838 with 215 convicts. Three of the guard had been released from hospital the day before embarking and two were returned, a chronic case of syphilis and one of asthma, a severe case of gonorrhoea was taken. The convicts were mostly young and healthy, the two exceptions being the cases of ulcers. Health during the voyage was good and there were no cases of any great importance. Changes of temperature produced diarrhoea and catarrh but they were mild and of short duration. Under the head of tetanus, are classed two cases of cramps of the muscles of the lower extremities, and under luxatio two of simple sprain. The worst case of scurvy is the one that is not detailed in the journal. 'The patient was scrofulous, fatuous and had an impaired constitution from excess and residence in a warm climate'. The disease presented as diarrhoea and lasted until he was landed. He recovered after landing. There was one birth, protracted [retention] of the placenta required manual assistance and there had been convulsions and delirium but recovery was speedy and perfect. Scurvy began to appear in the less healthy as they approached the Cape of Good Hope and they called at Symon's Bay [Simon's Town] on the 21 July and took on an additional 20 convicts, all military men in good health, and fresh provisions, including live sheep. They stayed 7 days and the health and spirits of the people were greatly improved. They were given a considerable quantity of potatoes and the surgeon is convinced that 'this liberality of the Government contributed greatly to our good health'. No cocoa was issued but the allowance of oatmeal was sufficient. The clothing was very bad and by their arrival in Sydney 'the people were all in tatters'. The men were well behaved and were encouraged to dance and march around to the music of the flute. The decks were seldom wetted and afterwards were always dried by stove and windsails. Chloride of lime was freely used and every means taken to keep the decks clean and dry. The weather was for the most part fine and the passage took 112 days. John Smith, Surgeon RN.