Medical journal of the Pyrenees 2, convict ship from 22 December 1852 to 16 May 1853 by John Bower, surgeon.
ADM 101/62/7B - National Archives (UK) website
Folios 1-3: Copy of Sick list.
Folios 4-5: case no 1, Patrick Archer, aged 10 Months, Infant; taken ill off Deal; sick or hurt, diarrhoea, the mother stated that he was ill with looseness for the last two months; put on sick list 9 January 1853, died 10 January 1853.
Folio 5: case no 2, Peter Falassy, aged 46, Pensioner; taken ill off Deal; sick or hurt, fracture of ribs, while coming aft from the galley, he accidentally fell down the main hatchway, struck against the prison bar in his fall; put on sick list 9 January 1853, discharged 17 February 1853 to duty.
Folios 5-6: case no 3, Samuel Husbands, aged 17, Ordinary Seaman; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever, he was a native of Barbados, was on the sick list for about three weeks laboured under attack of diarrhoea, which rendered his strength very much, last night had some delirium and suffused redness of eyes with increased heat of body; put on sick list 5 February 1853, discharged 15 March 1853 to duty.
Folios 6-8: case no 4, Daniel Sullivan, aged 16, Boy; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 11 February 1853, discharged 26 March 1853 to duty.
Folios 8-9: case no 5, John Rowland, aged 18, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever, of rather weakly constitution, complained of felling unwell, his bowels constipated, tongue white, pulse weak; put on sick list 27 February 1853, died 3 March 1853 at about 11.45.
Folios 9-10: case no 6, Ann Booth's child, aged 20 months, Infant; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, meningitis; put on sick list 2 March 1853, died 7 March 1853.
Folios 10-11: case no 7, Margaret Falassy, aged 2, Child; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, meningitis; put on sick list 3 March 1853, died 14 March 1853.
Folios 11-12: case no 8, Alexander Moriarty, aged 21, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 6 March 1853, discharged 8 April 1853 to duty.
Folios 12-15: case no 9, James Hounslow, aged 32, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dysentery; put on sick list 7 March 1853, died 3 April 1853.
Folios 15-16: case no 10, Patrick Hannon, aged 50, Pensioner; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 8 March 1853, died 24 March 1853.
Folios 16-17: case no 11, William Phillpots, aged 23, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 16 March 1853, sent 4 May 1853 to Hospital.
Folios 17-18: case no 12, William Hunt, aged 24, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 18 March 1853, discharged 29 April 1853 to duty.
Folios 18-19: case no 13, Mary Ann Walsh, aged 8, Child; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, remittent fever, a child of the Sergeant Major she is logded in an airy cabin in the poop, last night complained of headache, skin hot, pulse 120, face flushed and tongue loaded; put on sick list 24 March 1853, discharged 7 April 1853 cured.
Folios 19-20: case no 14, William Baldwin, aged 3, Child; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, ileus, pain in the abdomen but had no fever or any alarming symptoms, the abdomen was tensed and tumid with some vomiting but no feculent matter could be detected; put on sick list 26 March 1853, died 26 March 1853.
Folios 20-21: case no 15, John Robinson, aged 14 months, Child; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, hydrocephalus; put on sick list 2 April 1853, died 15 April 1853.
Folios 21-22: case no 16, William Austin, aged 41, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dysentery; put on sick list 7 April 1853, died 14 April 1853.
Folios 22-23: case no 17, William Fairhead, aged 19, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 8 April 1853, discharged 28 April 1853 to duty.
Folio 23: case no 18, Thomas Lidbury, aged 22, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, fever; put on sick list 16 April 1853, sent 4 May 1853 to Hospital.
Folios 23-24: case no 19, James Scott, aged 22, Convict; taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 18 April 1853, sent 4 May 1853 to Hospital.
Folio 25: Nosological return of cases mentioned in the journal.
Folios 26-27: Tables of medical statistics.
Folios 27-30: Surgeon's general remarks. The prisoners embarked on board were received from the following prisons – 55 from the Warrior Hulk, 35 from Woolwich Defence hulk, 50 from Portsmouth Prison, 2 from Stirling Castle hulk, 88 from Portland Prison, and 66 from Dartmoor Prison, a total number embarked 296 prisoners. The Surgeon remarks on the difference in appearance between the men received from the hulks and those from Portland and Dartmoor Prisons, he also stated the several children of the guard were ill qualified for so long a voyage, but according to the Surgeon the heavy expense entailed on the pensioner by providing his outfit and great difficulty in repaying the advance made for the purpose renders the rejection of any of the children they were therefore all received on board. The Surgeon makes remarks on the continued fever that occurred on board amongst the prisoners and the ship's company, which he attributed to the combined influence of a sudden change of temperature and the moist close atmosphere in the ship coupled with the disagreeable smell from the airholds.