Scurvy On the High Seas

Have you ever wondered what it was like to sail the Seven Seas as a medical professional with the navy of the British Empire??á Thanks to the National Archives (UK) you can now get first hand information on the health issues experienced by British sailors as recorded in the journals and diaries of the Royal Navy Medical Officers.

In June 2008, the National Archives won a grant from the Wellcome Trust Research Resources in Medical History program to digitize the records of Royal Navy surgeons and assistant surgeons.?á These journals date from 1793 to 1880 and document the experiences of surgeons serving on Her MajestyÔÇÖs ships and in British naval hospitals, as well as on emigrant and convict ships.

The records, ÔÇ£which include a variety of colourful talesÔÇØ, can be easily searched by diseases, ailments, or names of medical officers or patients (HIPPA does not apply).?á They offer a wonderful insight into the medical practices and challenges faced by medical professionals of a bygone era.