Instructions to surgeons superintendents of government emigrant ships.

  • Great Britain. Emigration Commission
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Instructions to surgeons superintendents of government emigrant ships. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    questions which may arise among them,—and by showing an interest in their well-being and comfort, there can be little doubt that over persons so circumstanced an officer in the position of Surgeon Superintendent may acquire a very great influence. But it is equally evident that any want of temper or justice or attention on his part would alienate the Emigrants from him, and make the performance of his duties proportionably more difficult. Nor is it only towards the Emigrants that the Surgeon Superintendent should well consider the relation in which he stands. As their protector it will be his dutjr to watch over the conduct of the Master and Officers of the Ship and Crew in all that relates to the Emigrants,—to see that the proper allowance of food and water is duly issued to them,—to protect them from ill- usage or interference, and especially to prevent, as further explained hereafter, communication with the single females, whether on deck or in their own apart- ment below. His relations with the Officers of the ship will require the exercise of as much discretion and firmness as his relations with the Emigrants; and on his exercise of those qualities will depend not less his own comfort than the success of the vo}Tage. He must remember that for any mal- treatment of the Emigrants, or other breach of the stipulations of the Charter Party intended for their benefit, he will be held responsible by the Colonial Authorities, in whom also is vested the power to withhold all gratuities, should they be dissatisfied with his conduct and that of the Officers of the ship. Division of the ^]ie d^ies 0f the Surgeon Superintendent mav con- instructions. ■ ** veniently be divided into four different periods : — 1st, on joining the ship; 2nd, at the time of the people's embarkation; 3rd, during the voyage; and 4th, after the voyage is over. The following Instructions will be divided into heads corresponding with those periods. Joining the Ship. Tojointhe^ 1. The Surgeon Superintendent will make all his personal ship or depot, arrangements for the voyage before the time appointed for the embarkation of the Emigrants, and he will hold himself in readiness to join his ship, or the Emigrant Depot when directed. He will attend continuously at the Depot, where the Emigrants will be under his medical care until they are embarked, and he will assist in the preparations for their embarkation. He will not leave the Emigrants, nor after they are embarked quit the ship, without the permission of the Commissioners' Officer on the spot. He will make himself