WHATEVER the Company did before the ship sailed, the emigrants at sea were in the hands of the surgeon, who nearly always filled the office of agent on board. In addition to looking after the health of his people, he had to superintend the stores and the daily issues of food, read prayers and a sermon on Sundays, see that the passengers aired their bedding daily, settle their quarrels, and, above all, try to keep ‘ the minds of the emigrants beneficially employed’ by promoting ‘innocent amusements among them.’ The fairly numerous complaints against the surgeon must in part have been due to this multiplicity of duties.

The Company had the latest medical advice at its disposal in London. The surgeons in 1841 carried fresh virus from the London Vaccine In­stitution. They had a great variety of ‘Medical Comforts’ to issue, not only to the sick, but to all passengers to safeguard their health. Among these Medical Comforts was a fortifying supply of stout, brandy, sherry, port, as well as arrowroot and sago. The surgeon had drugs and medicine in ample supply from the Company, but had 1 bring his own surgical instruments.

By far the most onerous part of the surgeon duties was his watching over the behaviour of individual passengers. He had to keep the vicious apart from the rest, prevent gambling, organise school for the emigrants who could read to teach those who could not, have them on deck six hour a day, weather permitting, and, in addition to a this, co-operate with the Captain in carrying out the routine of the ship.