Catalogue description Medical journal of the Duchess of Northumberland , convict ship from 16 November 1852 to...

Medical journal of the Duchess of Northumberland, convict ship from 16 November 1852 to 27 April 1853 by Charles Smith, Surgeon Superintendent, during which time the said ship was employed in the convict service.

[Note: ADM 101/254, 1A-1H are produced as a single document: order as ADM 101/254].

Folio 1: Front cover of the journal.

Folios 2-3: case no 1, Mary A Thomson, aged 30, Convict; taken ill at the Downs; sick or hurt, pleuritis, had also suffered from severe attacks of chronic rheumatism and habitually dyspeptic and every now and then profused whitish discharges from the vagina; put on sick list, 27 November 1852, discharged 6 December 1852 cured.

Folio 4: case no 2, Maria Nobbs, aged 20, Convict; taken ill at the Downs; sick or hurt, catarrhus; put on sick list, 27 November 1852, discharged 6 December 1852 cured.

Folio 5: case no 3, Anne Allen, aged 24, Convict; taken ill in the English Channel; sick or hurt, colica, had two children and suffered much from dyspepsia and irregular menstruation, had severe pain in the belly of a spasmodic character; put on sick list, 8 December 1852, discharged 21 December 1852 from the sick list.

Folios 6-7: case no 4, Margaret Browne, aged 30, Convict; taken ill off Lizards; sick or hurt, dysenteria; put on sick list, 14 December 1852, discharged 30 December 1852 from the sick list.

Folios 7-8: case no 5, Jane Nottingham, aged 29, Convict; taken ill in the Bay of Biscay; sick or hurt, diarrhoea, this woman led a most dissipated and wandering life and had been in 24 different prisons for various misdemeanors, she was also of a violently and intractable disposition and appeared to be at times partially insane, was subject to copious discharges from the vagina of a muco-sanguineous character and often suffered from dyspeptic attacks and irregularity of bowels; put on sick list 15 January 1853, died 13 February 1853.

Folios 9-10: case no 6, Anne Jones, aged 40, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, hepatitis; put on sick list, 26 January 1853, died 11 February 1853.

Folios 11-13: case no 7, Mary Paterson, aged 29, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, hepatitis; put on sick list, 12 January 1853, died 17 March 1853.

Folios 13-14: case no 8, Margaret Reid, aged 25, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, cynanche tonsillaris; put on sick list, 12 March 1853, discharged 10 April 1853 cured.

Folio 14: case no 9, Catherine Glasgow, aged 25, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dyspepsia; put on sick list, 17 March 1853, discharged 22 April 1853 to Colonial Hospital.

Folio 14: case no 10, Elizabeth Davis, aged 27, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, phlegmon; put on sick list, 28 March 1853, discharged 22 April 1853 to Colonial Hospital.

Folio 15: case no 11, Elizabeth Baylis, aged 23, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, scorbutus; put on sick list, 28 March 1853, discharged 22 April 1853 to Colonial Hospital.

Folios 15-16: Copy of daily sick list.

Folios 17-19: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal, and tables of medical statistics.

Folios 19-21: Surgeon's general remarks. On the 8 November the Surgeon received a letter from Captain O'Brien to examine 220 female convicts at Millbank Penetentiary as to their fitness for their voyage to Van Diemen's Land, which the Surgeon found them all in good health with two exceptions. On the 17 November, 219 female convicts were received on board, one having been left behind, the ship also received 34 children, 12 of whom were infants the other ranging from two to ten years. The Duchess of Northumberland sailed on 28 November, the Surgeon stated that during the passage the females suffered a good deal from sea sickness. He also refers to the two fatal cases of hepatitis.