Bound for South Australia 1836

Medicine Week 15

Dr Everard’s surgical kit used during the voyage of the Africaine. Currently on display at the SA Maritime Museum

Overview

Between February and July 1836 nine ships left Britain bound for the newly created province of South Australia. On-board the ships were passengers who over many long months braved the perils of the ocean, including some of the most treacherous seas in the world to begin a new life on the other side of the world.

This resource uses the stories from these nine ships as recorded by the passengers and crew in their personal journals.

Contents

• Introduction• Journal entries• Inquiry Questions• Relevant images • Glossary of terms

Introduction

This week we learn that a number of the passengers experienced illnesses onboard, including physical sickness aboard the Rapid and emotional issues aboard the John Pirie. Almost all migrant ships had a surgeon, a person with some medical experience or training, but these surgeons did not have the medical understandings that surgeons have today. Most had little knowledge and understanding of disease and remedies. Some of the common ailments onboard included dysentery, typhus, measles and lice.

The 19th century was a time of great change for surgeons and doctors in England. At the beginning of the century they were able to do very little for their patients and their main role was to provide comfort and reassurance. However, by the end of the century doctors had a greater understanding of disease, how to prevent it, and how to help patients through it. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that doctors and surgeons became highly respected citizens.

John Pirie journal writer, on board the John Pirie wrote:

We have had very fine Weather, since the Rain, last Nightand this Morng was beautifully clear and bright, but at7, A,M, a brawl took place in the Steerage , betweenMrs Chandler, and the Messrs Powell, in which themost disgusting and aggravating Language, was madeuse of by both Parties, towards each other, at lengthChas Chandler (who had been on Deck, during all this uproar)went down to them, and endeavourd to get his Wife pacified,but it was all in vain, for shortly afterwards She came uponDeck, with a Bundle of Clothes in her Arm’s, and madetowards the Ship’s side, threatening to drown herself, butwas prevented doing so, by the Captain catching hold of her,and was made to go below again by the assistance of herHusband, but while we were at Breakfast, the Helmsman

Journal entriesThursday 2 June 1836

alarm’d us very much, by crying Out, that a Woman hadjump’d overboard, when rushing upon Deck, we sawthe poor miserable Wretch strugling in the Sea, asternof the Vessel, when immediately tacking Ship, we suc--ceeded in getting her aboard again, but almost in alifeless state, having been in the Water, at least 10, minutes,however the usual remedies for recovering Person’s, apparantlydrown’d, were made use of, and I am happy to say, theyhad the desired affect, for She is greatly recover’d, althoughstill uncommonly Weak, with severe pains in her inside,and likewise in her Head _______ It appears that whilewe were in the Cabin, she took the opportunity of comingon Deck, with the Bundle still in her Arm’s, and wentto the fore part of the Vessel, in a terrible rage, butat which both her Husband, and others who were present,took little notice, thinking the Woman, could not actuallymean to destroy herself, however, when at the fore-Chains She suddenly stop’d, threw the Bundle overboard, andgiving a momentary glance at Chandler, She sprangover Bulwark herself, to the horror, and amazement

of all who beheld the sight, ________ The temper ofthis Woman is most violent, and when in a passion, Sheis shockingly wicked, while her Husband, Chas Chandler, appears to be a very decent, quiet, sort of Man, for whomI am truly sorry, but yet, She is not without somegood properties, having always taken great pains tokeep both herself and Children, neat and clean, but Sheis now with scarsely a Rag to put on her Back, havingthrown almost the whole of her Clothes into the Sea, thatno other Woman (her Husband might take to Wife) shouldhave the satisfaction of wearing them, after She wasgone, they have four fine Children, the oldest of whichis a little Girl 10, years of Age, and the youngest aboutabout 12 Months __________….

Friday 3 June 1836

Dr John Woodforde, on board the Rapid wrote:

June 3rd. Lat.4.35.We spoke the ship ‘Zenobia’ from Calcutta and it being calm the Captain and several of the Officers dined on board of us. Mr. Bluett, the Surgeon of the Zenobia, came to see me as I was very ill labouring under severe Palpitations, the result of excessive vomiting. I did not conquer the seasickness till seven weeks after leaving England and by this time I was reduced to a perfect skeleton. Bluett promised to call on my dear Friends in London and give them some account of me as I was too ill to write….

Inquiry Questions

• The British Medical Association was formed in 1832. How would this have impacted on the journey of passengers onboard these vessels?

• How did the skills of surgeons in 1836 differ to those surgeons have today?

• How have medical practices changed over time and what causes these to occur?

Images

Sea sickness attitudes off the Lizard, by George French Angus, 1843. Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia

Glossary of Terms

Bulwark• Sides of a ship raised above deck level to protect objects and crew. fore-Chains • The shrouds supporting the masts pass over channels, broad planks projecting out from the

ship’s side, and are tied back to the hull with chains. Thus it is for instance convenient to stand on the channel ‘in the chains’ when finding the depth of water.

Spoke• To speak a ship is to communicate with it by voice or signals. Steerage• The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the

cheapest rate.