Myths, legends and truths about medicine on 19th century Spanish warships

However, those who, in the belly of this wooden colossi, took part in such a complex task as reloading artillery pieces were not exempt from a trip to the infirmary. In that case, they may suffer fractures or bruises.

Blows and injuries

These types of wounds were known as Traumatic diseases, and it was treated in Spanish waters – and until the 18th century – by surgeons. In practice, this character specialized in sewing, cutting and, above all, cutting limbs; Remedies equal to excellence on ships.

“At that time there was still a difference between doctors and surgeons, although combat surgical training was preferred over medical training because the main diseases were traumatic,” they explained, in 2015, and in statements made to the Spanish captain ABC. Navy and Historian Jose María Blanco Núñez and Pharmacist Lt. Col. and then Ferrol Francisco Javier Pallares Head of Pharmaceutical Services of the Navy in Machuca.

However, it may also happen that the person in charge of the ax blows and cannon fire Creation, a professional who was in charge of both amputating a leg and curing a cold. “If he studied at the Royal College of Surgery in Cadiz, his training was both surgical and medical. He completed his studies as a doctor-surgeon from 1791, when the amalgamation of the two faculties was allowed only for students of that college,” both The experts are done.

And, for treating this kind of wound, he had multiple instruments that looked, more like butcher’s tools than medical utensils: known as ‘surgery boxes’. It was the heart of therapy on Her Majesty’s ships of the Briefcase Line. “‘Surgery boxes’ were to be sent by them and they carried everything they needed for their work: lancets, scissors, tweezers, fracture immobilization boards, syringes, amputation saws, stiffeners or chains, forceps, scalpels, metal catheters, etc.” , Núñez and Machuca completed.

However, the doctor-surgeon’s priority during the war was not to save lives, but to get the soldiers back on deck to fight on behalf of Spain. “The important thing was that the ship continued to fight. In field medicine, in general terms, the (logical) priority is to get men back into combat, which is why the smallest wounds are given priority over the most serious and complicated ones. An infirmary was established in the lower battery, Its space was separated by canvas, as was done for the officers’ cabins. The famous painting of Nelson’s death aboard the ‘Victory’ confirms this aspect,” Lashkar added.

Despite everything, and as Núñez and Machuca point out, going to the infirmary means, in many cases, the difference between living to fight another day or dying heroically for the country: “The level of survival depends on the type of trauma that occurred. Whether the problem occurred or not, but usually a few survived, although there are no statistical statistics.

Other ailments

But the brawl was not the only thing that forced the captain to fill the coffins, because every day brought with him dozens of mortal and invisible companions: diseases. Those among the crew who tended to cause the most damage were caused by lack of cleanliness on board, although they were not alone. “Due to the lack of ventilation, aeration and sanitation in the floor, the most common diseases were those that mainly affect the respiratory system and also affect sanitation,” the experts highlighted.

As a result of the long journey scurvy, a disease that appeared in sailors because their diet was very poor in vitamin C, which is mainly present in citrus fruits, fruits and vegetables. The condition causes skin rashes and everything from severe nose and gum bleeding to tooth loss. At the same time, appearance Yellow fever -causing the affected person to vomit blood and also develop delirium and fever- or the plague -which is manifested by fever, convulsions and, depending on its variety, difficulty breathing or bleeding-.

“They could do little with the tools (drugs) they had to deal with important medical (non-traumatic) illnesses (consumption, pneumonia, etc.) for yellow fever and plague, and anti-infectives appeared. Until then, there was no etiological treatment (against the cause) so only the symptoms were treated,” Nunez and Machuca concluded.

The case of scurvy was different, as it had a cure that could be applied while on the ground. “For other diseases, such as scurvy, solutions were found. Citrus fruits were known to cure them, but after a week of travel they began to rot. In the late 18th century an army doctor decided to boil orange juice, but ‘pasteurization ‘This hypothesis failed because vitamin C is destroyed above 60 degrees Celsius,’ the Spanish experts concluded.