| Description | Letter book containing copies of letters written by Sir James McGrigor, the majority to the officers in his charge. Some of the letters are written on McGrigor's behalf. [See, for example, letter dated 7 January 1813 on page 219. McGrigor was on a tour of the principal hospital stations in January 1813 as noted on page 23 in Journal no.8.] The flyleaf contains notes relating to the servants allowance and is followed by an index to the letter book, with each correspondent's name listed alphabetically.
The first letter, written by Mcgrigor at Elvas on 31 March 1812, is addressed to a Mr. Tegart at Lisbon and requests that he ask apothecary Matheurs to submit his monthly returns more regularly: 'With the very ample assistance which he now has, he is without excuse for not transmitting the Return on the day it became due' (p.1).
Many of the letters for the end of March and the month of April (pp.1-60) contain orders issued by McGrigor to his medical staff, refer to the provision of medical stores to the various hospital stations or comment on the delay in receiving reports. Some of the letters also request information or comment on the format to be followed when composing a report (for example see p.26). Mention is also made of the transfer of patients to different stations and, as in the case of a letter addressed to the superintendent at Alter de Chao on the 11 April, the need to prepare for the accommodation of 800 men (p.24).
In a letter dated 12 April 1812, he requests that all sick medical officers currently at Lisbon are visited to 'see if they are not in a state to join their Regt. or do duty, as the service of every individual at the present moment are urgently called for' (p.28).
27 April (pages 48-49)
Letter to D. Dickson [Purveyor to the Forces] in which McGrigor notes that he does not think it will be necessary to establish either an hospital in front of Castello Branco or a field hospital, and that Celerico will probably be the only hospital in the north, the stores there more than enough in relation to the number of sick that will probably be sent to it: 'You are however aware that the varying incidents of the Campaign will necessarily change our arrangements and that nothing permanent on this subject can be decided upon; the establishment at Niza need be but upon a very small scale, it being only intended as a receiving Hospital, the PMO being directed to forward all cases of serious disease to Alter de Chao and Abrantes as they occur'. Also notes that the establishments at Badajoz and Elvas should be closed as soon as possible 'making the sick fall back on Estremoz and Alter de Chao'.
Guinaldo, 7 May 1812 (page 82)
Letter to [Dr.?] Gray requesting that any damaged stores, particularly instruments, at his station be sent to Lisbon for transfer to England. Also asks him to express his disatisfaction with a Staff Surgeon and the 'slovenly and incorrect manner in which he executes his duties...if he is not more correct I will recommend to the AMB to remove him to the W. Indies or any other situation where inefficiency may be attended with less injury to the public service'.
Castello Bom, 22 December (page 185)
Letter to Dr. Dickson remarking that Lisbon is the only station that send returns on time. Requests that as the returns 'furnish information which is absolutely necessary to me' that he see to it that every station sends:
a monthly return (one containing quantity of articles of bedding and other stores with note of expenditure on the reverse).
quarterly retun for the months of March, June, September and December noting the quantity of provisions used during the period , the quantites of different articles of provisions purchased, the quantities of stores of every kind purchased at the station, the amount paid for servants wages, to clerks, to officers of the hospital staff and for washing and repairs.
Half Yearly: 'a Return which shall give the total disbursements - now it will only be necessary, that the amount of each Station be stated, to correspond with the quarterly Statements which have been furnished from the Station'.
Castello Bom, 26 December 1812 (pages 201-202)
Letter to J. Donahoe noting that he has not yet received the requisitions for bedding and comforts required for the Regimental Hospital of the Cavalry Division: 'every other in this army have long since sent them in, and some of the Corps have at this time the comfort of their articles. I am sorry to be obliged to say that I cannot help thinking the superintending Medical Officer of the Division answerable in a high degree, if the Corps are destitute of bedding and comforts, which can be provided for them'. He also comments unfavourably on the conduct of the Medical Officers of the Cavalry Division and the addressee.
1813
Castello Bom, 1 January (pages 212-213)
Circular letter to various hospital stations (listed in margin) requesting information on a number of points for the last quarter, including whether the medical officer in charge believed that intermittent fever was communicated by contagion (question 5) and what proportion of the cases of ague have been followed by hepatitis or other specific diseases (question 7).
Castello Bom, 1 January (pages 213-215)
Circular letter reporting the present distribution of the inspecting duties in the Peninsula. Notes, for example, that Deputy Inspector Tegart is responsible for the inspection of Abrantes, Santarem, Alter de Chao and Niza. It is ordered that from this point onwards the Inspecting Officers shall strictly perform the duties of their rank, 'not confining themselves to those of Principal Medical Officers of a station'. Also notes information to be included in reports to be sent following inspection of a hospital and refers to assistance to be provided by the Physican and Surgeon in Chief but noting that 'neither of these officers will interfere with the economy of your Hospitals, or the general arrangements of the Station...'.
Castello Bom, 1 January (pages 215-218)
Two circular letters, one to the Physician in Chief to the Forces, the second to the Surgeon in Chief, outlining their duties and responsibilities.
At the end of the volume there is a list of general hospitals dated 1812: Lisbon, Santarem, Coimbra, Celerico, Castanheira, Castello Branco, Niza, Badajos, Elvas, Estremose [Estremoz], Alter de Chao, Abrantes and Cuidad Rodrigo. |