| Administrative History | After a period of leave, McGrigor rejoined the 88th regiment in November 1803, and may also have been stationed in Hailsham in East Sussex as well as Pevensey.
Pevensey is a village in East Sussex and is situated five miles from Eastbourne and one mile inland from Pevensey Bay. |
| Description | Description of cases in the 88th Regiment while stationed at Pevensey in Sussex. A note on the title page refers to this as the first volume for 1804. The pages are numbered consecutively from 1-31. From pages 32-55 each double page is numbered as one page changing back again to consecutive numbering on page 84 onwards (following a gap of 28 pages which are not numbered).
Each daily entry records the name of the patients, their complaints, the medicines prescribed, their progress and if they have been dismissed from hospital. The first entry, which refers to a case of consumption, is noted as being 'from the other book'.
Weekly remarks are entered for the following dates:
25-31 December (p.45)
The present state of the sick is very favourable; only one case is in a dangerous way: Kilpatrick, who is in the advanced stage of phthisis pulmonalis. His [suppuration?] has been relieved by the application of [tinctura?] and the inhalation of vitriolic ether. Also comments on cases of confluent smallpox, pneumonia, acute rheumatism (treated with the antiphlogistic regimen), diarrhoea (helped by use of opiates), ophthalmia, four venereal cases (one a severe case of secondary lues; the use of mercury failing to effect a cure), hemorrhoids, ulcers, jaundice (helped by cathartics), dysentery [case of Brannagan: also see case book 27, pp.19-22] (helped by 'bandaging') and intermittents, who were treated successfully with bark.
1-14 January (p.84): Space was left for remarks for this period but they have not been entered.
7-15 January (p.88)
15-21 January (p.102)
The state of the sick during the week has been favourable and the 'dismissions' of the week exceed the admissions by five. Notes that the weather has been inclement and unfavourable and there has been a lot of rain. Comments on cases of pneumonia including Cooney who was at one time attended with the most severe symptoms: he has found benefit from the use of _ , antimonials, squills and the antiphlogistic regimen. Also notes some severe cases of acute rheumatism including Jones who is without swelling of the joints but has extreme pain and much [pyrea?]: 'on removing this and lowering the _ the digitalis has [shown?] some effect'. Brannagan is the only case of dysentery: 'salivation has been here induced, but without removing the symptoms. He now uses an astringent'. The cases of diarrhoea have in general been treated with a purgative of rhubarb and some opium. The two cases of intermittents 'do well with the cutex?, opiates and emetics...'. Also notes cases of small pox and venereal disease and refers to the punished men, whose 'backs heal very untowardly'. |