'As His was Not a Surgical Case it was Not My Duty to Attend Him': The Surgeon's Role in the Nineteenth-Century Royal Dockyards.

Richard Biddle

doi:10.1017/mdh.2013.39

Abstract

AbstractDespite a varied historical literature on the nineteenth-century royal dockyards, very little has been written about the health issues associated with naval shipbuilding or the healthcare facilities that were provided for dockworkers in the period. This article focuses mainly on the latter. Drawing on archival sources from the home dockyards, an examination is made of the duties and responsibilities of dockyard surgeons. These are found to have expanded considerably as healthcare provision became steadily more comprehensive. It is argued that as providers to a civilian workforce, the naval authorities were in the vanguard when it came to implementing perceived advances in medical practice. It is also contended, however, that while many dockworkers benefited as a result, this positive appraisal needs to be set against the more ambiguous aspects of the surgeon’s role. Although surgeons treated the sick and injured, their growing prominence in other dockyard matters, such as retirement and the policing of sickness, is shown to have created tension in their relationship with the workforce.

Highlights

Despite a varied historical literature on the nineteenthcentury royal dockyards, very little has been written about the health issues associated with naval shipbuilding or the healthcare facilities that were provided for dockworkers in the period
As well as shedding light on surgeons’ complicated relationships with dockworkers, the richness of the sources, which cover everything from mundane requests for stationery to in-depth medical reports and orders from the medical department of the Navy, offer broader insights into the naval authorities as healthcare providers to a civilian workforce
Dr William Gunn MD was appointed to Sheerness Dockyard in June 1855, after having been a naval surgeon for twenty years, during which time he served on a variety of vessels in both the home and foreign stations

Summary

The Qualifications and Experience of Dockyard Surgeons

The naval authorities were not as slow as historians to recognise the importance of dockworkers’ health. Dr William Gunn MD was appointed to Sheerness Dockyard in June 1855, after having been a naval surgeon for twenty years, during which time he served on a variety of vessels in both the home and foreign stations. He had been a surgeon and medical storekeeper at Halifax Hospital (Canada) and at Deptford Victualling Yard. The sample comprised all those in post in 1815 and every ten years thereafter until 1895 This revealed an average of twenty-six years’ experience as a naval surgeon at time of appointment, with no man having less than thirteen years. The naval authorities were not prepared to leave the health of their civilian workforce to chance

Patient Client Base and Caseload

Serious hurts as a percentage of total hurts

Everyday Duties and Responsibilities

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Conclusion