Scurvy in the British Mercantile Marine in the 19th century, and the contribution of the Seamen's Hospital Society

Postgraduate Medical Journal

Volumn 80, Issue 942, 2004, Pages 224-229

  Cook, G C ^a  

^a Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DOCUMENT EXAMINATION; HISTORY OF MEDICINE; HUMAN; INFECTION PREVENTION; LEMON JUICE; MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION; MEDICAL RECORD; REVIEW; SCURVY;

AUTOPSY; BEVERAGES; CITRUS AURANTIIFOLIA; GREAT BRITAIN; HISTORY, 19TH CENTURY; HUMANS; NAVAL MEDICINE; PORTRAITS; SCURVY; SOCIETIES, HOSPITAL;

EID: 2342455068     PISSN: 00325473     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.2003.011122     Document Type: Review

References (100)

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6. George, first Baron Anson (1697-1762) had a most distinguished naval career. He served as midshipman and lieutenant in the Baltic; second lieutenant; captain and commander on the Carolina Coast, West Indies and Pacific; rear-admiral; admiral of the fleet. He later became first Lord of the Admiralty (1751-6 and 1757-62). On his circumnavigation of 1740-4, 1385 out of 1854 men died of disease - most from scurvy.
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10. Moore N. In: Lee S, eds. Dictionary of National Biography 1909;11:1150-1, James Lind (1716-94) obtained his MD from the University of Edinburgh, and was a fellow of the College of Physicians of Edinburgh. As a surgeon in the navy, he served at Minorca, the West Indies, Mediterranean and English Channel and from 1758-94 he was physician to the Naval Hospital, Haslar. In addition to his work on scurvy, he published: "An Essay on Diseases incidental to Europeans in Hot Climates".
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17. Barnes R. Report on the OCCURRENCE of SEA SCURVY in the MERCANTILE NAVY, based chiefly upon the Experience of the SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL Ship, "DREADNOUGHT", lying off GREENWICH. London: HM Stationery Office, 1864:330-49.
18. Anonymous. Scurvy in a ship of war. Times, London 1867;14 January, 8.
19. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
20. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
21. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
22. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
23. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
24. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
25. Anonymous. Twenty-first report of the Committee of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. Origins and Progress of the Seamen's Hospital Society for Sick and Diseased Seamen in the Port of London, on board the Dreadnought, 104 gun Ship, moored off Greenwich. Supported by Voluntary Contributions. Established in 1821 - incorporated in 1833. London: W Gilbert, 1842, 17-20. Ibid, Twenty-second report 1843:18-21. Ibid, Twenty-seventh report 1848:18-21 . Ibid, Forty-third report 1864:18-21; Ibid, Forty-fourth report 1865:17-22; Ibid, Forty-fifth report 1866:17-21; Ibid, Forty-sixth report, 1867:16-20.
26. George Budd MD, FRS (1808-1882) served as Visiting Physician to the Seamen's Hospital Society (SHS) at Greenwich from 1837-1840. Whilst there he became deeply interested in cholera and scurvy; in view of his work on the latter disease, he was invited by the Committee or the SHS to advise the Society on its cause and cure. He afterwards became Professor of Medicine at King's College, London.
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38. Harry Leach (1836-79), qualified from St Bartholomew's Hospital and served most of his short professional career with the Seamen's Hospital Society. Having reached the position of Chief Medical Officer to the Dreadnought Hospital, he resigned to become first Port Medical Officer for the City of London. He made major contributions to the health of the mercantile marine (including prevention of scurvy) and published "The Ship Captain's Medical Guide". He died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
39. Leach H. Scurvy. Times, London 1866;12 January, 7.
40. Leach H. Scurvy in the Merchant Navy. Times, London 1866; 17 January, 7.
41. Leach H. Sea scurvy. Times, London 1866;19 February, 12.
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