THE ROSSLYN CASTLE

These are the chronicles of the chief surgeon, George Imlay, of His Majesties Ship (Convict) "Rosslyn Castle" for the 1832-1833 voyage to Australia.

"A party of the 27th Regiment was embarked on the "Rosslyn Castle" Convict Ship on the 10th of August and the ship left Deptford two days afterwards to take in male convicts at Dublin and Cork for Sydney in New South Wales.

-... August, stormy weather and contrary winds, to put into Plymouth Sound, so that we did not arrive at Kingston till 7th September.

Nothing worthy of remark occurred during this part of the voyage except that several of the soldiers were attacked by bowel complaints soon after leaving Deptford. The cholera was still raging in Dublin and we were informed that four men had been sured with it on board the "Ep..." , two of whom had died.

On the 11th of September we embarked 152 convicts and 8 free settlers and put to sea immediately to prevent communication between the prisoners and their friends, thinking by so doing to lessen the chance of infection.

Owing to strong contrary winds it was five days before we reached Cork. Most of the convicts, although apparently in a high state of health, suffered severely from sea sickness, after which about 50 of them were attacked with diarrhoea generally, accompanied with spasms in the abdomen; and seven who had neglected to apply for advice, when suffering from looseness, were sured with cholera, the symptoms and treatment of which will be seen by referring to the journal.

The germs of the disease must in all probability have been in their constitutions previous to their leaving the hulks and the disease coincident to sea sickness rendered their systems susceptible to its baneful influence.

From the circumstance of no case having occurred later than seven days after our departure from Kingston, I am inclined to think that the disease did not propagate itself on board. In fact, every precaution was taken to prevent infection. Those afflicted with the disease were removed to the hospital, bag and baggage. All their clothes were thrown into boiling water and afterwards immersed in a solution of Chlorine of Lime. The hospital and prison were kept clean, dry and well ventilated. The bedding and every article of clothing worn by the patients during the disease were destroyed after which the hospital and utensils were well washed with soap and hot water and then sprinkled with a solution of Chloride of Lime. The seven convalescents we had in the hospital after being well washed and newly clothed were removed to the "Surprise" hulk.

We sailed from Cork on the 8th of October with 195 convicts and 5 free settlers on board and arrived at Sydney on the 5th February. No disease of any consequence appeared amongst them till our arrival in the North Latitudes where light variable winds prevailed accompanied with rainy or hazy weather. Some of the men then convalescent from fever and dysentery were attacked with scorbutic symptoms and in the course of a few days nearly one third of the convicts were more or less afflicted with scurvy.

The disease as usual put on various shapes, but the men who had been formerly subject to organic complaints suffered most severely. One man, after removal of the scorbutic symptoms was afflicted with ascites which soon yielded to the usual remedies, but he never acquired strength afterward and died the day before we gained the land.

I have the honour to be Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

George Imlay, Surgeon."

NOTES

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The techniques used in isolating a contagious disease used by the Surgeon George Imlay in this 1832 voyage would not be faulted in today's society. Only modern chemicals have improved the chances of decontamination.

George Imlay settled in N.S.W. with his brothers and they were responsible for the opening up of a large part of the South Coast of NSW.

This voyage of the “Rosslyn Castle”, carried my ancestor Thaddeus MAHONEY, a 13 year old pick-pocket from Dublin.