I Joined H M ship Anson in the

I Joined HM ship Anson in the beginning of July 1843. She was ordered to carry Prisoners to the Penal Colony of Van Diemans land. On the 1st of September the Dockyard authorities reported the arrangements to be complete, when two hundred Convicts were received from the Authorities at Chatham twenty of them had lately been afflicted with Pulmonary & Bronchitic diseases thirteen had the remnant of old ulcers on their extremities, & six days after embarkation three men presented themselves afflicted with various forms of syphilis.

I considered it necessary to send six cases to the hospital on our arrival at Spithead on the 13th Sept.

The Convicts embarked at Portsmouth amounting to 306 were genuinely healthy but some of them had recently suffered from various diseases & scrofulorm tumours of the neck were common, but generally those in delicate health improved rapidly on board and the glandular swelling caused little trouble during the middle & latter parts of the voyage. But one man of the name of "Aultar" I feel called upon to particularise, as an exception to the above, his character was represented to me as being that of a rogue, however I soon discovered he was an object rather demanding commiseration than coersion, as being afflicted with amentia in connection with Epilepsy, in the 72 attacks / which he had on board / of this latter disease he died.

Colica. This term is applied to all gripping pains of the abdomen not dependant upon inflammation. Amongst the class of Convicts this appears to be a very frequent disease, and one of by no means slight importance. It was most troublesome at those times when a damp and sultry state of the atmosphere was present, when some of the usual amusements could not be carried on & the depressing passions occupied the mind. Abnormal inflammation of a low character occasionally set in, which increased the debility of the patient, and gave rise to many distressing complaints.

Irregular contractions of the muscles of the hands and feet appeared in some instances for a considerable time. The treatment consisted in the use of purgative in combination with opium, & oleaginous and carmunative injections. Formentations with hot water were applied to the abdomen, and dry heat to the lower intestines. In the 2nd stage some of the alternative preparations of mercury were beneficial, as were also laxatives and tonics.

Strictures. There were excellent examples of the two varieties the spasmodic and the permanent. The first arose from a temporary contraction of the muscles around the urethra, or of the urethra itself, it was with the greatest difficulty on many occasions that a catheta could be passed, but in the operation being completed the relief was perfect. The previous use of the warm bottle, and injection containing opium, rendered the operation safe.

Permanent stricture. In many instances the urethra was of a cartilaginous hardness at various points, and in one patient a pistulous opening existed opposite to the enconbrances portion of the urethra. I was always able to relieve the bladder by the cautious use of a small onet..nl.ia catheter; and gradual dilation, with the external application of the mercurial ointment, increased the diameter of the urethra and removed much of the surrounding induration.

Ophthalmia Purudenta. This most acute form of inflammation of the conjunctiva, has been of frequent occurrence amongst the prisoners, but happily the destructive effects which the disease frequently exerts on the organ of vision have in every instance been avoided.

The patients were first seized with an uneasy sensation about the eyes & pain on the admission of lights, then with swelling of the testures within the orbit, violent and burning heat, the conjunctiva reddened generally chemosis appeared and the eyelids became very much termified. These symptoms preceded the development of the permanent character of the disease, the formation of a considerable quantity of purulent matter. This discharge was at first like tenacious limpi.. mucous, but in the course of a few hours it became thick and white.

Frequently the pain through the whole progress, was intolerable in the eye itself, there was a sense of scalding or burning and an agony in the head that could not be described.

The cause of the disease I conceive to have been a damp condition of the air, which generated the peculiar on board & the disease did not attack those who were in general occupied below where the decks were perfectly dry, and kept clean by the process of rubbing with hot sand and stones, but most frequently the Convicts employed on duties on the upper deck. This disease when first known, was ascribed to the minute and glassy opienlae(ossienlae) of the sands Egypt, but it has since been traced either to a peculiar ornasin generated in marsh land or to sleeping on damp or swampy grounds with insufficient covers and surrounded by a moist atmosphere, and as these causes exist in many other parts of the world the Egyptian ophthalmia has been detected in various situations . This peculiar musim acts upon the tunica conjuctiva and especially on the mucous follicles, and a purifersn fluid is secreted, impregnated with the specific contagion: it is propagated with great rapidity between those who come in contact with each other, or with materials, as towels & that have been used by the infected. The most strict regulations were observed to prevent the expanding of the disease by these latter causes; of these preventative means the following were the principals - separation of the sick, great cleanliness, the frequent change of the dressings, the cloth which had been employed were either immediately purified, or when not in a state to be reused by this process, they were thrown overboard, the mess utensils and bedding were kept apart, chlorine water was applied to the soiled clothing of the infected, which was washed either by themselves, or other appointed for this purpose whose state of health was strictly watched.

The practice followed was adopted from what has appeared to me the best remedial means which are described in the writings of the many eminent men, who have published on this interesting subject. In the past onset of the more acute attacks, the patients were bled from the arm so as to reduce the hardness of the puler and restore the secretions of the skin. In all the cases, the antimonious tartarizalison was given again with the same intentions. The views of Dr Saunders, regarding the numerous grasnilations of the conjunctiva were not forgotten, & these bodies were in many occasions removed with a pair of scissors. In other cases according to the plan of the late Dr William Adam, the diseased conjuctiva was sliced away with a knife. Both these practices appeared to me to be very painful.

The topical applications consisted of warm water, the aqueous solution of opium, and the solutions of acetate of Zinc, the nitrate of Silver, and the sulphates of Zinc and alum Scorbutes. Although the number returned in the neurological form, as having been affected with this disease is very similar, I cannot omit mentioning, that it’s peculiar symptoms manifested themselves in the two others of the most severe cases of persons suffering from other diseases which it tended materially to aggravate. In the treatment, I found the preserved potato a very useful and even a successful remedy.

I attribute the small amount of Scorbutic symptoms to the ventilating system established on board. In what other situation would Convicts, dieted upon such provisions be more likely to become affected with scurvy than when confined on the Orlop-deck of a 74 gun ship? By the ventilation of this deck, an essential necessary was punished for the instrument of that bodies of it’s inhabitants and without this supply of ointments have been impossible to have secured the ordinary purity of the wards.

The means of ventilation were the air movers & pumps constructed according to the plan given to me by Dr Neil Arnott of London. These pumps / of which a sketch and brief description are given in the blank journal / were kept in full and uninterupted operation day and night; they could be plied in every type of weather, & when circumstances admitted of it they acted concipingly with the air funnels and windsails. A single pump worked by a boy for two hours without causing fatigue, exceeded in power the other means of ventilating the fan and fly wheel apparatus, this latter required six men to be stationed by it to keep the machinery in motion and from it’s situation it could not be made useful during the night, the season of the twenty four hours in which the rapid change of air is most required in all crowded appartments. From the experience I have had of the methods of ventilating by Dr Arnott’s pumps; I would strongly recommend it, as being most efficacious to which may be added it’s easy application and I do this after having had opportunities of observing the other plans at present in use.

At the conclusion of the remarks, I shall give the monthly median range of the thermometer in the different decks, which will afford a proof of the influence of ventilation, as regards temperature; this subject is more fully detailed in my meteorological journal.

Great attention was paid to the cleanliness of the person, and the clothing of the Convicts as also the purification of the prisons; when the measures necessary for purity were carried to their fullest extent by the ordinary means, the aid of chemistry was called for, & chlorine was diffused through the different parts of the prisons.

Languor & weakness of the circulation accompanied with profuse sweating in moderate exertion, tremors of the limbs, debility of the moving prisoners and a listless state of mind. I found to be remedied only, by the daily immersion of the body in cold water & the affusion of water upon the head and shoulders, marching and dancing to music, frequent change of situation etc. I consider that hammocks are the most suitable beds for Convicts both in regard to health and morality. On the representation of Captain Coghlan and myself, hammocks were supplied to the women of the Anson when occupied as the female penitentiary in the Derwent.

The regulations for discipline were scrupulously carried out, accompanied by admonitions based upon the principles of religion and morality, that the minds of the Convicts might be directed to better things. The orders of Captain Coghlan, were most rigid regarding the introduction of tobacco and other prohibited articles among the Convicts. I twice every day inspected all the Prisons, on these occasions the state of the purity was carefully noted, as well as of the mess utensils and furniture. The general condition of the health of the Convicts was investigated during muster at 9 ‘Oclock in the morning. The Convicts were classified according to their ages crimes and dispositions. The hours of rising and going to bed, varied with the regions through which we passed, immediately before the setting of the sun regulated the latter & dawn of the day the former. It was necessary to call at Rio de Janero to receive a supply of water and refreshments, when the Guard the crew & the Convicts had the advantage of a deck of fresh animal food. The bedding was aired once or twice a week. Sunday was dedicated to religious duties, and prayer and preaching were delivered to the Convicts, to instruct them in what they owed to their maker and to society, that by a reformation of the conduct, they might show they were fit to be restored to freedom, when the laws of an offended legislature admitted of it. The measures for discipline were directed by the able views of Captain Coghlan, and armed with his authority I was enabled to perform an arduous service.

October 1843 the Latitude reached from 58° S to 16° 36 S.	November the Latitude varied from 10° 36 N to 23° S.	December the Latitude varied from 23° to 40° S.	January 1844 the Latitude varied from 39° 54 to 44° 12 S.
Thermometer *Lalasenhead* Mthly.............as indicated	Thermometer Monthly Median
Atmosphere 70°	Atmosphere 70°	Atmosphere 64°	Atmosphere 80°
Main Deck 73°	Main Deck 78°	Main Deck 66°	Main Deck 89°
Lower Deck 77°	Lower Deck 82°	Lower Deck 73°	Lower Deck 99°
Orlop Deck 76°	Orlop Deck 83°	Orlop Deck 75°	Orlop Deck 90°

The words that are highlighted and in Italics were difficult to read and maybe incorrect.