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Book Review of Rough Medicine: Surgeons at Sea in the Age of Sail

Rough Medicine: Surgeons at Sea in the Age of Sail
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2700 more book reviews


An interesting tale about ships' surgeons from the 19th century and earlier. Some of it deals with the various 'cures' these surgeons used. One of my living history friends was fascinated by the comparisons of two different ship's medical chests and the medications, herbal and chemical, listed.

It also covers the adventures of various surgeons sailing in navy, merchant and whaling vessels. Not all of them experienced the best of times. Between serving under ship captains who were tyrants, drunks, incompetent or all three, life aboard ship was anything but dull.