Thomas F. (hardtack) -
An interesting tale about ships' surgeons from the 19th century and earlier. Some of it deals with the various 'cures' these surgeons used. One of my living history friends was fascinated by the comparisons of two different ship's medical chests and the medications, herbal and chemical, listed.
It also covers the adventures of various surgeons sailing in navy, merchant and whaling vessels. Not all of them experienced the best of times. Between serving under ship captains who were tyrants, drunks, incompetent or all three, life aboard ship was anything but dull.
It also covers the adventures of various surgeons sailing in navy, merchant and whaling vessels. Not all of them experienced the best of times. Between serving under ship captains who were tyrants, drunks, incompetent or all three, life aboard ship was anything but dull.
Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed Rough Medicine: Surgeons at Sea in the Age of Sail on + 1032 more book reviews
Interesting look at how medicine was practiced at sea in the 1700/1800s. There are several first-hand accounts that Druett pulls from - they are all from whaling ships, so we get a better look at that than from the military ships, although she does contrast and compare them. It's amazing how little they could actually do for anything besides a wound. You kind of marvel at it because a lot of what the "doctors" prescribed could also kill you. I would have liked to know a little more chemistry as I didn't really understand many of the ingredients their "cures" came from. One amazing thing to me - I thought that salicin (from willow bark, and where aspirin came from) would be really common but it isn't even mentioned.
There's a longish section on how whales were hunted and killed, but I expect if you're the type to read a book like this, you won't be overwhelmed with horror by the idea.
There's a longish section on how whales were hunted and killed, but I expect if you're the type to read a book like this, you won't be overwhelmed with horror by the idea.
