Reference from Professor Peter Redfern for William Young

Maker Professor Peter Redfern (British, 1860 - 1893)

Date8 September 1871

Object number00006841

NameReference

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 114 x 181 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA reference letter for William Edward Young from Professor Peter Redfern whose classes at Lucius College, Queens University Belfast, William Young attended while studying medicine. The reference states that William Young is of good character and is qualified to undertake the medical care of passengers to Australia. It is signed P. Redfern, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Lucius College, Belfast.HistoryAlthough William Young left the Belfast Seminary to apply for a position in banking, he ultimately trained to became a surgeon. As a physician he became a popular ship's surgeon on board a number of immigrant ships from Britain to Queensland in the 1870's and 1880's. Professor Peter Redfern became chair of Anatomy and Physiology at Queen's in 1860. At that time a Faculty of Medicine was not a formal branch didn’t technically exist, but there were students were working out of the Anatomical Department at the back of the Royal Academical Institution, some distance from the College. Redfern ultimately persuaded authorities to construct a new Department and Museum adjacent to Queen’s. The 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. 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.