| Administrative History | McGrigor disembarked at Jersey in May 1797 and had to contend with an outbreak of typhus in the 88th regiment soon after. |
| Description | [This case book is labelled number 7 on the spine but is in fact number 6 according to the list of volumes in McGrigor's catalogue. See AMCS/10/1.]
Case book 'containing chiefly the cases of an Epidemic and Contagious Fever which raged in the 88th regt. from 17th July 1797 to 31st December 1797'. The progress and treatment of patients is recorded on a daily basis, with weekly remarks provided summarising the health of the regiment and particular patients. Medical Officers in charge at St. Owens Bay, Jersey: Surgeon: McGrigor; Assistant Surgeons: Bruce and Brown. The volume is not in the same hand throughout and pagination at the start of the volume is slightly erratic.
Weekly remarks:
Begins with remarks for the week 29 July-4 August, which have been continued from page 31. Lists 19 cases of 'fever in the tents', describing symptoms, progress and treatment, before highlighting 11 new cases. With patient named Whyte bleeding was tried but this did not seem to improve his condition greatly. Notes that infection can be traced to the fact that most of the men 'were either seized when sentry on a hot day or soon after being relieved'. Also notes that three were attacked first with epilepsy and that there was no cold stage in any of these cases. Remission took place in all the cases on the third or fifth day but in almost all the cases where patients recovered quickly, there was a tendency to relapse. The most helpful remedy has been emetics and the bark has also been successfully applied (pages 1-2).
There then follows weekly remarks for the 22-28 July which again have been continued from pages 3 and 4 of the volume, beginning with observations on the first case of fever in the barracks. Patient named Skinner, of the Grenadiers, was admitted to hospital on the 7 June and had a bubo cut 'which was advancing to cure'. On the night of the 19 July, he was suddenly seized with a violent headache, sore throat and symptoms of fever. Notes various treatments prescribed, including mixture of neutral salt and [tartar] emetic and steady decline in patient's condition, experiencing sickness, suffusion of eyes, headache and convulsions, before he succumbed to the disease. Lists other patients experiencing similar symptoms and case of Lieutenant Dixon, 'the first that was attacked with fever, he complained on 18th or rather 17th the exciting cause to him was going into the sea while he was very hot. At this time (the 18th) the weather had been very hot and sultry...and much dew generally falls at night in this season at Jersey. It will be curious to note a correspondence here, and to see how the Fever kept pace with the weather. On 17th Lieut. Dixon was attacked, on 19th Skinner [was] in the hospital, on 24th Anson, Grenadier was attacked, Williams same. _ , Salmon who in hospital lay in next bed to Skinner...'. The remarks for this week also note that Assistant Surgeon Brown was added to the list of 19 cases admitted during the week: 'Mr. Brown attended Lieut. Dixon at first, he gave him [his] medicines and was constantly near him'. Notes that of these cases, two were in hospital when attacked, one was an orderly man attending patients with the fever, four caught the fever when on duty at the hospital or tents, Mr. Brown was attacked when attending Mr. Dixon and Williams after carrying Skinner, but in others the source of contagion is more obscure. Comments that all the patients were attacked with the fever suddenly and in same manner with violent pain of the forehead and eyes and giddiness. Only two of the cases experienced shivering and some epilepsy and the pulse in all was at first small but quick. Also refers to 'uncertain operation' of Dr. James' powders (pages 3-4, but then second set of pages numbered 1-2).
5-11 August (pages 51-53)
Provides update on progress of 31 cases of fever reported in previous week's remarks, before reporting 7 new cases. The writer notes that all of the 38 cases are convalescing, and records the number of sick in each regiment and the source of the fever in the new cases. 'In the appearance of this Fever, no one varied in the symptoms from what has been already described - in none of them was there a regular cold stage. The only difference in the treatment in those of this week from those of former weeks, was in the earlier exhibition of the [Cort.?] _ '. Notes other remedies tried and refers to Dr. Robinson and Dr. Clark's plan.
12-18 August (pages 73-74)
Nine new cases of fever reported and update provided on existing cases, including note of treatment. The plan of giving bark revealed that the sooner this was given, the duration of the fever was less, although it led to some bad after effects.
19-25 August (pages 91-92)
Comments on cases of fever from previous week and ten new cases, noting that the first patient was one of those where there was a 'cold stage' and that this case will allow them the opportunity of seeing 'the nauseating plan'. Of these cases seven still suffer from the fever. The infection in three quarters of these can be traced and he lists the date on which they fell ill and the proportion of cases of fever to each company.
26 August-1 September (pages 107-108)
Refers to method of treatment used in cases of fever: six of the old and four of the new cases are on the nauseating or 'Cullinean' plan. In those treated with the nauseating plan the four that have apyrexia were given the P. Antimonial, the others are mostly on the Solut. Tart. Emet. [tartar emetic]. Wine has also been used as well as other medicines.
2-8 September (pages 121-123)
9-15 September (pages 133-134)
Two new cases of fever were admitted this week: 'From the very cold weather which for 10 last days we have had, it being equinox, the 2 cases have a mixture of pleurisy'. Also refers to tendency of cases to relapse and highlights treatment administered to patients, noting that last week 17 cases were on the antimonial plan, the 2 new cases being treated in the same way. Also notes that two cases are on the 'evacuant plan' and lists number of cases of fever that have occurred so far, 67 in total.
16-22 September (pages 143-144)
In all of the five new cases 'fever was induced by the inclemency of the weather, and in them the Fever seems to have changed its type, all of them were attended with inflammatory affections of the _ or lungs'. Notes that they recover well under the antiphlogistic regimen.
23-29 September (page 153): eight new cases have been admitted and reports on old cases. New cases include Hellier, a case of old fever, treated with Ting., and Cut. and Vin. laterally and four inflammatory cases 'treated on the low plan'. Also lists numbers of men affected by either inflammatory or continued fever (80 in total) in each company.
30 September-6 October (page 161): of 24 cases from last week, 8 have been dismissed and 6 new cases admitted. Reports on old cases including that of Bannon, who continues with the 'tonic plan in its full extent' and Wood and Allison who continue with the [Valin?] and ether and now use cold bathings and the milk diet. The new cases include six slight cases treated on the 'low plan' and doing well and a case of old fever treated with, among other things, 'Ether Vitriolic'.
6-13 October (page 169): there are 18 cases in the hospital including: Bannon: after a six week trial of the Tonic plan it is to be discontinued and a trial of D. M. Griffiths plan started; Wood and Allison: they now also use the Zinc [Vitriol] and Bal. Fir.; Jones: 'topical affection' of brain and right ear remains.
13-20 October (pages 177-178): for the first time no new cases have been admitted; Bannon: has been on Griffiths plan for 10 days with no apparent change; Smith: apyrexia continues; Wood: after absence of 3 weeks he had a fit but this lasted for a shorter period than is usual from the exhibition of the 'Volat. Spirit…'. 'The fever has now continued 3 months. In that time or from 22 July when first remarks were made, it appears that 63 cases occurred; 29 cases which more lately appeared which are of Synochus [continuous fever] are not taken into the account'.
21-27 October (pages 185-186)
28 October-3 November (pages 194-195): six new cases have been admitted; 'Every one of the new cases is either Catarrh or Pneumonia, some of the latter have very severe symptoms. There is nothing remarkable in any of the new cases, they have all been treated in the Antiphlogistic, they not only _ frequent Venesection, but where this was omitted, or but sparingly used, some of the cases have not done so well'.
4-10 November (pages 204-205): seven new cases have been admitted leaving 20 cases in total.
11-17 November (pages 213-214): Bannon continues in the same state: 'in this case the fullest trial has been made of Dr. Griffiths medicine, and of the Cupr. Vitriolat and they have failed'. The two new cases are of pneumonia and rheumatism.
17-24 November (page 221)
25 November-1 December (page 220)
2-8 December (pages 225-226)
9-15 December (page 231)
16-22 December (page 237)
23-29 December (pages 242-243)
There is an index of cases and diseases at the end of the volume. |