| Administrative History | McGrigor was ordered to take command of the medical department at Middleburgh on 2 September 1809. The British force was evacuated from Flushing on 25 December 1809. |
| Description | Letter book containing copies of letters written by James McGrigor, although not always in his own hand. Many of the letters in the first part of the volume are addressed from Middleburg (or Middelburg, island of Walcheren), during the Walcheren Campaign and are addressed to the Surgeon General, Thomas Keate. In the second part of the volume, a large proportion of the letters are addressed to J. Reed, Secretary to the Army Medical Board and were written when McGrigor was inspector-general of hospitals. The cover is inscribed 'Letter Book No.2'.
1809
Middleburg, 10 September (pages 4-5)
Letter to Adjutant General replying to query regarding the number of amputations that were carried out as a result of gun-shot wounds. Notes that it would take a long time to obtain a list of the medical officers who had carried out this surgery, many of whom had since returned to England 'either with their Regiments, or attending wounded from the General Hospital'. Offers his own opinions on this subject, noting the extent of the injuries sustained by an attacking army on a position defended by artillery: 'This I have seen verified at the Siege of Morne Fortune, Saint Lucia in 1796; the attack of the French position near Alexandria on 13th March 1801; and at the Bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807'. Praises work of medical officers and comments that as no surgical operations are permitted, except in the field where there is no other alternative, 'until the cases have been cautiously examined in regular consultation. This circumstance alone will I trust prevent any doubt from being entertained of measures so important to the individuals concerned having been carried into effect until it was fully and maturely established that no alternative remained'.
Middleburg, 28 September (pages 30-31)
Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Walsh, Deputy Adjutant General regarding suggestion by Sir Eyre Coote, in response to the sickness prevailing in the army, that civilian doctors on the island should be employed 'to assist in the arduous duties of the medical department': 'I beg leave to state that my objections were founded on the indifferent opinion I entertained of the skill and ability of the Practitioners in this town, and the impossibility of being able to engage in our service medical men of any experience in the treatment of disease. The total impossibility of the sick soldier being able to express the symptoms which characterise his disease in language to be understood, would of itself preclude the possibility of deriving any advantage from the adoption of this measure'.
Middleburg, 12 October (pages 58-61)
Letter to Lieutenant General Sir Eyre Coote noting inspection of barracks and hospitals on island and offering suggestions for maintaining the health of the troops. Notes that cold and moisture are the likely causes of disease: 'During the short time that I have been in the island I have had numberless instances of these causes occasioning relapse into fever and of their almost universaly [sic] retarding convalescents'. The reasons for this he states as being the poor state of the roofs and walls of the buildings used as hospitals and barracks, the troops sleeping on cold and lower floors without boards or adequate bedding, the inadequate clothing issued to the troops when in a cold climate, and a lack of discipline among those men sufficiently cured as to warrant discharge from hospital: 'they require the utmost attention of their officers, who frequently may prevent the men from committing irregularities that induce disease. I by no means, mean to insinuate that inebriety [sic] is frequently seen in the soldiers of this army'. He further recommends that raw or unmixed spirits should continue to be given to men on duty. [Lieutenant General Sir George Don replaced Lieutenant General Sir Eyre Coote as commander of the expedition sent to Walcheren in October 1809.]
4 November (page 101)
Two letters referring to loan of medicines from the Surgeon of the Dutch prisoners of war to the British troops.
'Middlebourg', 14 November (pages 120-122)
Letter regarding transport of sick to England, noting that after arriving on the island he urged the necessity of sending hospital mates out to accompany the sick. 'Had not Assistant Surgeons been obtained from the Navy thru' yours and Sir Eyre Cootes application to the Admiral on this station, 8 more transports, and all of them having a worse description of sick on board than the the 5 [addressed?] by Mr. Reate, would have proceeded to England without any medical assistance whatever...unless the Surgeon General immediately sends out the assistance which I have so repeatedly and surprisingly called for, I cannot embark the sick in the 33 transports daily expected without removing every effective medical officer from the hospitals in the island, and leaving sickly corps without any medical staff...'. Also refers to complaints made by Surgeon General regarding embarkation of sick at Tir_ by Deputy Inspector Grant, offering his support to the latter: 'I have only to regret that the Surgeon General should not have made himself more accurately acquainted with the matter contained in his letter before he stepped forward with it for investigation'. Comments further on problems he is facing and relationship with Surgeon General.
On board the Asia Hospital Ship, 25 December 1809 (page 156)
Letter to E. Walker: 'On the conclusion of the service on which a detachment of the 7 Royal Veteran Battalion under your command have been attached to the Hospital Department, I beg to express to you my thanks for the assistance rendered and to state how satisfactory regular the general conduct of the men has been at the various quarters when they have been employed on duty'. He singles out two non-commissioned officers in particular for their excellent conduct.
[From page 158 onwards the letters are written from Portsmouth. The first of these is dated 1 February 1811.]
Portsmouth, 3 February (page 159)
Letter to J. Reed, Secretary to the Army Medical Board, reporting that mortality continues to ensue from the fever which has appeared in the detachment of the East Middlesex Militia. [Also see letter of 8 February on page 165 in which he reports improved health of this detachment.]
Portsmouth, 17 February (page 168)
Letter in which he reports that the mortality and disease which occurred in the garrison during the previous week is less, noting among others 10 cases of fever, 18 cases of catarrh and 5 cases of pneumonia. Reports that no case of contagious fever has appeared in the East Middlesex Militia for the last two weeks. [However, see letter dated 22 February on page 169 in which he reports reappearance of fever, this affecting the prisoners as well as the troops on duty in the prison ships.] 'From the numerous detachments which have marched into the Hilsea depot in the course of the week, not less than 59 have been admitted into the hospital there and Staff Surgeon Fraser is much in want of assistance'.
Portsmouth, 23 February (pages 170-176)
Letter to the Board with statement for the last winter quarter showing the number of cases of each disease and the consequent mortality which ensued among the troops in the Severn and South-West District: 'I find, that the proportion both of disease and mortality has rather exceeded that of any of the late preceding years'. Comments in particular on large number of cases of fever in the East Middlesex Militia (page 171) and notes symptoms and treatment of this disease (pages 172-173): '…great probation of strength on the first attack, pulse generally quick and feeble, tongue of a dark scarlet colour in the centre white on the edges…In the commencement of the disease an Emetic was exhibited and the bowels were cleaned. Diaphoretics were afterwards given; and in several cases, Dr. Hamilton's mode of treatment was tried; but in all the cases debility gained ground so fast, that to obviate it became the principal indication, with which view, Cordials and Stimulants were exhibited and the mineral acids were taken in the patients drink. The Bark was useful [where?] it could be given but in many cases the existence of pulmonary symptoms forbid its use…We conceived that the use of the nitrous fumigation was beneficial in preventing the contagion'.
Portsmouth, 6 May (pages 213-214)
Letter to J. Reed reporting on health of garrison. Notes total strength of garrison as being 8,958 and lists cases admitted during week including 10 cases of continued fever, 9 cases of catarrh and 107 cases of ophthalmia. Reports that 101 of the latter are from the Sussex Militia, 'but within last 3 days the daily appearance of cases has greatly diminished'. Lists three fatalities from continued fever, consumption and pneumonia in the 60th Regiment, Northampton Militia and Worcester Militia and comments on mortality in corps at Bristol.
[A page has been removed between pages 217 and 218.]
Portsmouth, 20 May (pages 227-228)
Letter to Major General Whetham suggesting that sick and wounded be transported from ship to land via flat boats rather than the 'sick vessel of Haslar' in order to ensure their quick admittance to hospital.
Portsmouth, 25 May (pages 234-238)
Letter to Secretary Reed forwarding statement for the previous winter quarter. Includes details of different types of diseases and their attendant symptoms, with a description of some treatments administered.
Portsmouth, 27 May (pages 241-243)
Letter to A. Bolton issuing instructions regarding transport of sick and wounded men. Point 3, for example, notes that 'it would be very desirable, if possible, to find on board with sick, an officer of the rank of Surgeon to deliver the sick over to the Surgeon of the ship or receiving officer and to explain the condition [and] previous treatment etc. of any particular cases'.
Portsmouth, 22 June (pages 276-277)
Letter to J. Reed reporting difficulties experienced by Medical Officers embarking at Portsmouth for service and who are entitled to horses. 'It has several times happened that medical officers, who brought their horses with them here, have been embarked themselves on their arrival and been obliged to leave their horses'. Notes importance of the horses to enable them to perform their duty and requests that the Agent of Transport be allowed to grant passage for the horses of medical officers entitled to them.
Portsmouth, 12 July (page 301)
Reports for the information of Lieutenant General Whetham irregularities found on inspection of the Helen Transport No.15 at Spithead with detachments awaiting transfer to Portugal: 'From the very dirty state the deck was in where the men sleep, the total disregard of ventilation, the men with all the bedding being allowed to remain below all day and from no order being preserved among the troops embarked in the Helen, I am apprehensive that disease will appear speedily in her'.
Portsmouth, 21 July (page 317)
Letter to J. Reed forwarding weekly hospital returns of all the corps in the station. There has been one death in the Royal [Dragoons?] from phthisis pulmonalis and there has been admitted:
8 cases of continued fever
4 cases of intermittent fever
3 cases of catarrh
3 cases of pneumonia
1 case of phthisis pulmonalis
4 cases of rheumatism
2 cases of diarrhoea
2 cases of cholera
4 cases of ophthalmia
Portsmouth, 24 July (page 321)
Letter to Deputy Inspector Bolton: 'I have reason to believe that there is sometimes foul dealing and almost always irregularity relative to the medicines given here for the sick that may occur in transports bound for Lisbon'. Notes that medicines, instruments and stores are not always accounted for in statements and therefore in future he will send a statement of this nature with every shipment from Portsmouth to Lisbon.
There is an index at the end of the volume. |