Reference for Dr William Young from St Thomas Hospital

Date3 July 1872

Object number00006842

NameReference

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 113 x 176 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA letter of reference for Dr William Edward Young recommending him as a ship's surgeon. Signed by one of his former teachers, a surgeon at St Thomas Hospital, London, Harley Street and dated 3 July 1872.HistoryThe immigrant voyage from to Britain for Australia in the C19th was long, arduous and dangerous. While each vessel had a surgeon aboard, their role was all encompassing and despite best efforts, illness and death were not uncommon. The doctor's role was not just to heal those in need but primarily to prevent sickness ravaging passengers in the first place. This involved closely supervising the sanitary conditions on board, which was extremely difficult to maintain considering the unhygienic environment steerage passengers were forced to endure. An outbreak of disease was always feared as it was difficult to contain once it started to spread it such confined spaces. Regulations became stricter as the decades passed and ship's surgeons learnt more about managing conditions for months at sea. Migrants had medical inspections before boarding, cleanliness was important and regular checks by the surgeon were carried out. The focus was on prevention, hygiene and routine. They were also of course the daily medical emergencies such as births, bone breaks, illness, fever etc. and the ship's doctor treated them all within the confines of a moving ship. Often there were hundreds of passengers on board immigrant ships and all at some stage of the voyage may require medical attention. In the year 1883 when Dr William Young was surgeon aboard DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH from Plymouth to Brisbane, there was over 26,000 assisted passengers to Queensland alone. The arrival of this ship caused particular interest in it's arrival with one paper writing: "The Duke of Buccleuch, an immense iron ship, belonging to the Ducal line, whose owners have contracted with the Government of Queensland to convey 30,000 immigrants to that colony, is now in Newcastle harbour, and leaves shortly for London, via Java and Calcutta. The 'Dukes,' as they arrive in port, are visited by numbers of sightseers. Their carrying capacity averages some 4000 tons." Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) Thu 10 May 1883 SignificanceThe role of ship's surgeon was a multi-faceted one, with the health of passengers and crew, the hygiene on board and often the moral wellbeing of the passengers all his responsibility. It is said that the surgeon’s role was that of splendid isolation, having no one on board who could sympathise with his plight and no one to share the blame if something goes wrong. These documents relating to the career of Dr William Edward Young are a record of a career surgeon and a reminder of the significant role they played in thousands of Australian lives.