~An Amalgam of Medical and Maritime History~

A medical student, an aspiring maritime historian, a man who always seems to find his passions in the most unorthodox of ways. I am all these things. Perhaps a bit of an overstatement, particularly the last part, however, my quest to find that which drives me has always led me down circuitous paths. Medicine and maritime history might seem a strange amalgam to some, however, the two are linked in the most extraordinary ways. Both have rich and multifaceted histories that are prime for exploration, discovery, and learning. I seek to learn about both; separately and together.

As a student of medicine, I am at once enthralled and inundated by the wealth of knowledge to be gained from such a course of study. Despite my passion for the subject, I have found that though we are more than sufficiently prepared for our roles as healers, we often times are left with little in the way of an historical perspective. How did we come to use the techniques and medications now endorsed by physicians, and what did it take to get to this point? These are questions that I seek to answer.

Though I have always been a history enthusiast, it was not until recently that I discovered my love of ships and the sea. I quickly gained a penchant for all things maritime. an historical subject that encompasses a broad range of topics from naval battles to the science of navigation. Recently, I came to find that surgeons at sea played an integral part in the orchestra of persons aboard a sailing vessel. They were to maintain the health of the sailors at all costs, despite the rudimentary tools and the unforgiving elements of wind and sea. This effectively bridges the topics, and provides a jumping point for my future knowledge and research.

Any feedback is welcome as I share what I have gained with you.
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Collection of Historic Royal Navy Photographs

Anyone on Facebook, and of course interested in maritime or naval history, would certainly do well to look up Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Fan Page, and take a look at their recent collection of great photographs provided by the Royal Naval Museum.  I happened upon them today, and feel they are a great opportunity to sample the some of the atmosphere in which these men lived.  It is rare to be able to see such a nice collection of historic photos all in one place, and as easily accessible as they are on Facebook.  This site has certainly come a long way from its beginnings as a social internet venue for college students.  Here are a couple examples of the photos provided by the Royal Naval Museum.




The link to the photo album is here (may need a Facebook account, so I pasted them to my own account if you wanted to see them! Go to the Facebook button at top right).  I am always on the lookout for sites which provide the opportunity to peruse high quality photos, and this is a great example.  What about you?  Have any great sites that you’ve found an want to share.  Let me know!


Scurvy was one of the plagues of long distance travel by sailing ship, when voyages could last for months to years. During that time the crews lived on salted meat and dried root vegetables, the only things that could be kept edible without refrigeration. It was discovered empirically in the early 18th Century that drinking the juice of citrus fruits—which is high in vitamin C—would prevent this affliction, and the work of James Lind proved the curative and preventative powers of citrus fruits, especially limes, in treating this condition. The Royal Navy promptly adopted a regulation that required all its men to drink a weekly ration of lime juice. This practice was so rigorously enforced, and became so strongly associated with British sailors, that to this day Englishmen are still known by the nickname given to them by other Navies: “Limeys.” artist: Robert A Thom; A History of Medicine in Pictures, 1960

Scurvy was one of the plagues of long distance travel by sailing ship, when voyages could last for months to years. During that time the crews lived on salted meat and dried root vegetables, the only things that could be kept edible without refrigeration. It was discovered empirically in the early 18th Century that drinking the juice of citrus fruits—which is high in vitamin C—would prevent this affliction, and the work of James Lind proved the curative and preventative powers of citrus fruits, especially limes, in treating this condition.

The Royal Navy promptly adopted a regulation that required all its men to drink a weekly ration of lime juice. This practice was so rigorously enforced, and became so strongly associated with British sailors, that to this day Englishmen are still known by the nickname given to them by other Navies: “Limeys.”

artist: Robert A Thom; A History of Medicine in Pictures, 1960

(Source: adventures-of-the-blackgang)