National archives.

Its that time of year when the Brits open up lots of unseen paperwork.
Amid this years spy stories, aiding terrorist stories and political double dealing there is this gem from the age of sail.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/surgeonsatsea/

[Penguin]

wow! thanks for sharing - reading the highlights alone got me!

“Drunkenness nowadays in the Navy kills more men than the sword – I am sure of it.”

And I am sure this is even more true today!

[papa_smurf]

The journals include a variety of colourful tales of 18th and 19th century ship life, from drunken rum-related incidents, venereal disease, scurvy, shark bites and tarantulas, to lightning strikes, gun fights, mutiny, arrests and court martial - not to mention ship wrecks and even murder.

Sounds much like the Royal Navy today