| Description | 'Correspondence Book Volume 1' containing copies of letters written by McGrigor to his commanding officers and the medical officers in his charge for the period 1805-1808. Many of the letters are addressed to Dr. Borland, the Assistant Inspector General, and refer to returns or inspection reports (for example, see pages 12-14 and 19) forwarded for the attention of the Inspector General [Francis Knight, to whom McGrigor also addresses many of the letters]. Some of the letters refer to errors in returns made out by medical officers (for example, see pages 10-11, 29 and 101) or the delay in establishing hospitals (page 16) and many comment on the provision of medicines and stores (page 23). There is an index at the front of the volume.
1805
Beverley, 29 August (pages 3-4)
Letter to Dr. Borland, Assistant Inspector General requesting that the Inspector General be notified of his visit to barracks and hospitals of the three regiments comprising the garrison of Hull and discussing other matters such as the provision of medical stores.
Beverley, 2 September (pages 7-9)
Copy of circular letter issued to Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons in the York District detailing the required format and content of weekly returns, including sample form showing rows and columns to be included.
Beverley, 12 November (pages 28-29)
Letter to Mr. Irvine, Surgeon in the Royals, issuing instructions for the 'speedy and entire evacuation' of the hospital as a 'preliminary step towards the perfect purification' of it.
'Abstract of Contingencies incurred on the public service', July-December 1805. Includes note of expenses for lodgings, portage and stationery and travelling expenses (page 40, also see page 61).
1806
Beverley, 4 January (page 42)
Letter to Dr. Borland regarding arrival of two transports carrying troops from the 9th and 27th regiments of infantry at Burlington. Reports that there are about 17 sick in both regiments, the prevailing diseases being fever and dysentery. There is a lack of medical provisions on both ships and Apothecary Maxwell is to take a voyage medicine chest to one of the vessels.
Winchester, 4 June (page 59)
Letter to Major Davis, Assistant Commissary General, South-West District recommending that, due to the 'very contagious and fatal fever' that has prevailed in the three battalions of the German Legion for some time, the barracks and hospitals occupied by this corps be purified and fumigated and the walls white-washed.
Portsmouth, 24 August (page 80)
Letter to Francis Knight [Inspector General of Hospitals] enclosing and commenting on returns. Notes that there is a small decrease in the sickly regiments and hopes that measures now adopted will show a great improvement in the health of the 13th Regiment in next week's return [see letter dated 17 August, pages 79-80, in which he refers to large number of sick in this regiment, the majority suffering from venereal disease]. Also refers to ophthalmic cases in the Veteran Battalion.
Portsmouth, 21 September (page 86)
Letter to Francis Knight reporting his inspection of transports now in harbour and noting lack of certain provisions 'which are indispensably necessary in case of the occurrence of sick at sea. There appears a deficiency of rice in most transports, of currants in several and of wine in all of them'.
Winchester, 28 October (page 99)
Letter to Surgeon Henry [2nd Dragoon Guards] ordering him to ensure the supply of various hospital stores reported deficient by Assistant Surgeon Swallow, including: 8 blankets, 6 rugs, 16 sheets, 1 water bucket, 1 close stool pan and 1 iron kettle.
Portsmouth, 11 November (page 103)
Letter to Francis Knight informing him of three more severe cases of ophthalmia in the 54th Regiment at Hilsea Barracks: 'With 266 cases of ophthalmia out of a total strength of about 600, it appears unsafe to me, that the [regiment] embarks for foreign service'.
1807
Portsmouth, 8 March (page 132)
Letter to the medical officers in the South-West District enclosing letter from the Inspector General and asking them to pay particular attention to the hospital bedding issued to their corps as there is 'abundant proof that by means of bedding some of the most destructive and obstinate diseases are dispersed'. He asks that they report on the state of the bedding in their next weekly return.
Portsmouth, 2 August (page 155)
Letter to Surgeon General regarding deficiencies in medicines sent to Monte Video [also see page 154] and noting responsibilities of apothecary at Winchester with regard to checking of stores.
Portsmouth, 3 October (page 178)
Letter [not in McGrigor's handwriting] to F. Knight reporting on inspection of portion of Sussex district under his charge: 'I am sorry to be obliged to report that with the exception of the 2nd Dragoon Guards and of the Cheshire Militia...I have been under the necessity of every where observing reprehension'. Comments in particular on Cavalry Hospital at Brighton which he directed to be broken up and the sick transferred to Lewes, and the hospital of the 26th Regiment 14th Foot.
Bognor, 5 October (page 180)
Letter to F. Knight reporting on suitability of Silsea Barracks as a depot for ophthalmia cases. Notes that it could accomodate 300 men, 'the water is good, the site very dry...in the detachment of the Monmouth and Brecon Militia who have for the last 10 months done [their] duty there, not a case of intermittent appeared'.
Silsea, 22 October (pages 181-182)
Letter to F. Knight in which he comments more favourably on Surgeon Rice of the 2nd Battalion, 79th Regiment who is now following the course of action recommended by McGrigor: 'sea bathing, frequent inspection and washing of the eyes, with attention to cleanliness'.
8 December (pages 199-200)
Two letters, one presumed sent to the Inspector General, reporting conduct of Surgeon who had left 17 sick men in barracks and 3 in hospital upon the 62nd Regiment being sent to Weymouth. The second letter reprimands the Surgeon for his actions.
30 December (page 211)
Brief note of letter to Dr. Vitch, Silsea Hospital: 'Charge of pipe clay for men in hospital inadmissable, not conducive to cleanliness. If individuals can not be charged with breakages the expense to fall on all the men in hospital...'.
1808
8 January (page 217)
Letter sent to F. Knight enclosing a statement of the ophthalmic patients on board the Raw Cliff Transport received from Staff Surgeon Ross. A copy of this is added below and records 266 cases of ophthalmia, including soldiers, hospital servants and women and children.
22 January (pages 223-224)
Letter sent on behalf of McGrigor to F. Knight referring to McGrigor's frequent visits to the Regiments in the Garrison due to the prevalence of pneumonia and in particular the West Essex Militia (who had just returned to Gosport with many recruits), who he notes were treated by way of bloodletting and with the antiphlogistic regimen. Notes recommendation to supply men, particularly the recruits, with two flannel waistcoats and removal of the Regiment to barracks at Haslar: 'but I am sorry to observe that the recommendation of Dr. McGrigor has been very tardily complied with...'. Remarks that there are many cases of catarrh and some of pneumonia and describes illness that begins with slight shivering (later symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, foul tongue, cough or hoarseness and sometimes coma or delerium). Describes postmortem examination carried out on one of the patients suffering from this disease. Notes alarm among officers due to possibility of contagion.
Return of the 1st Somerset Regiment of Militia, dated 28 January, noting number of troops assigned to each of the 14 rooms in the barracks, the number of berths in each room and how many instances of more than two people in one bed: 'I have this day visited the Barrack rooms...and am of opinion that they are too crowded for the preservation of health and the more especially as the measles has made its appearance in some of the recruits' (page 230).
8 February (pages 231-232)
Letter written by McGrigor to F. Knight regarding both the West Essex Regiment of Militia and the 1st Somerset Regiment of Militia referred to above. In both cases he notes their continuing poor health but he could not detect contagion in the former [also see letter dated 9 February (pages 232-233) in which he reports prevalence of same diseases in 1st Somerset Militia as found in the West Essex Militia: the former had lost 14 men in the last 4 weeks and he lists the types of disease affecting the 98 men sick in this regiment including pneumonia and inflammatory fever].
Brighton, 8 January (pages 238-239)
Letter to Lord Charles Somerset reporting his inspection of 'nearly all that part of the Sussex District allotted to me' and commenting favourably on the efforts of all the medical officers apart from one Assistant Surgeon who had allowed an orderly man to dress two ulcers. Also reports on ophthalmia depot, now containing over 700 men. |