mrwill

The first thing one needs to do is to understand that all the refinements of rum and leting it age in oak kegs are for modern taste. Distillers in the 1600 were only interested in making and selling rum as cheaply and quickly as possible. Based on what research I've done, I would say that Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum would be very close to what was drunk in those days. It isn't aged, it isn't spiced, and it's 63% alcohol by volume. You almost have to put it in punch to get any quanity down easy. M. Williams

Brethren, I have done considerable research on medical practices of this period. I have found out that as far as to cauterize wounds goes only the most unskilled and uneducated would have used this as a method of stopping the flow of blood. In 1545 Pare' published his magnum opus on surgery which clearly stated that to cauterize was counter productive in that it cause excessive pain, retarded healing and caused what could be called collateral damage to surrounding tissue. Doctors would still cauterize was but only in limited situations such as the when it was desirable for the destruction of tissue, when blood flow could not be stopped by ligature, pressure or styptic or any other way. Cauterizatrion was also used to cause irritation or therapeutic blisters to the skin of the patient. That is not to say that some jack leg professing some medical knowledge wouldn't use cauterize, just not a professional. Yrs. M. Williams Esq. Late Surgeon to his Majesty’s Provincial Forces.

Grenades from frontGrenades from side Here are the photos of my simulated grenades. At least I hope they are here somewhere. M. Williams Esq. Late Surgeon to his Majesty's Provincials

Nope, sure don't. I don't think that they would be TOO thick however. You can pick up demilled baseball grenades from military surplus stores, at larger gun shows or The Sportsman's Guide. Here is the link for them, http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=205237 As I know very little about computers, I hope to get some help from a buddy and post some pictures of my simulated Hand Grenades later today. M. Williams Esq. Late Surgeon to his Majesty's Provincial Forces

Shipmates! Interesting question. I checked in my copy of Boarders Away (with steel) and found the following quote from Gilkerson regarding "chuzo de abordage" (Boarding Pikes) "It is apparent that pike heads were not often considered significant enough objects to warrant marking during the classical age of fighting sail, particularly during the early years, and the identification of these lowly weapons even to nationality is often impossible now. Updateable examples of Spanish, Dutch, English and Scandinavian pikes have been observed with square-section spike-style heads so closely resembling one another that they might have been made by the same hand, but not for the knowledge that they were not." Gilkerson does show an illustration of a two headed Spanish pike but says it is a 19th century development. Based on that, I would say that there is no purely Spanish pike head to replicate. The Castillo de San Marcos is the place to call, they are VERY helpful and willing to assist anyone who needs some information. Check with the site historian. Hope this helps, M. Williams Esq. Late Surgeon to his Majesty’s provincials

Shipmates! Nicely done Captain Midnight. I would beware of the simulated fuse that you have in your grenades however. I don't think that the originals had that type of fuse. It seems that the plugs were bored out and filled with a slow burning powder compound which made the wooden plug into a fuse. I simulate that by taking ground charcoal putting in the wooden fuse and then giving it a squirt of white glue. The glue soaks into the charcoal and hardens clear. Then cover with a piece of soft leather tied on with hemp cord. I make mine out of surplus baseball grenades, but here is a company that sells metal hollow balls <http://www.sharpeproducts.com/ball_hemispheres.htm> M. Williams Esq. Former Surgeon to his Majesty's Provincials

Learned Colleague, For the stick and fillet tourniquet, I would recommend woven hemp strap 1" or 11/2" as available here: https://host96.ipowerweb.com/~frontier/cgi-...product=webbing The tape that they speak of would be what a tape loom would make like so: http://www.tapelooms.com/album_cat.php?cat...b37d74e28d369de The 18 tailed bandage was made of heavy linen or sometimes wool. (As well as all the single and double rollers) Sutures and ligatures were made of linen or silk thread, sometimes for tying off arteries the hair of a horse tail was used. No sutures or ligatures were left in the wound, once the injured part had healed they were removed. To do otherwise would cause abscesses to form. Glassware can be obtained from my friends at: P&B Glassworks 5612 Mooretown Rd, Unit C Williamsburg, VA 23188 (757) 564-8436 Tell then what you are doing and tell them Dr. Mike sent ya. For ointment jars, bleeding bowls and other cool stuff try the following folks, http://www.juliasmith.com/ http://hendersonsredware.com/ http://www.westmoorepottery.com/index.htm I remain, Y.M.H.& O.S. M. Williams Esq. Late surgeon to his Majesty's provincial forces

Rats, My pleasure to be of service to a brother of the scalpel. Yrs. M. Williams Esq.

Ah, Jib...... Please remember the old adage, One evening in the arms of Venus, leads to 10 weeks with Mercury. Or as the British Airborne doctor told the troops he was inspecting before operation Market Garden, "You lads put your private parts where I wouldn't put the ferrule of my umbrella. <grin> Y.M.H.& O.S. M. Williams Esq. Late Surgeon to his Majesty's provincial forces

Ladies and Gentlemen, While the book "Plain, concise and practical remarks" by Jones is a wonderful book, it is a bit late for our time period considering that it was written in 1776 (if my failing memory serves) I would say a bit safer choice would be "Extracts from the Marine Practice of Physik and Surgery, Including the Nature and Treatment of Gunshot Wounds" by John Ramby who served as the Surgeon General of the British Army in the 7 years war. It was written around that time and the copy that is reproduced was reprinted in 1776. It is only a small selection of the original work but it has a good deal of naval information in it and is much closer to the G.A.o.P. time period. Of course, if you can get your hands on a copy of the Surgeon's Mate by Woodall you are home free, since it was the period's best medical book. But good luck, it only took me three years to find a copy I could afford. <grin> You can get a copy of Ramby for around $14.00 from King's Arms Press http://www.kingspress.com/military.html I Remain, Yr. Most Humble and Obd. Serv. M. Williams Esq. Late Surgeon to his Majesty's provincial forces

in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. Harry Lime The Third Man

Gentlemen, If I may make bold and join this conversation, One of the better sources for information on medical matters is the book "Revolutionary Medicine" by Keith Wilbur. It is one of the best starting points for anyone who has an interest in colonial medicine, surgery and it's practice. Don't let the title scare you off, the medicine and methods didn't change that much between the G.A.o.P. and the American Revolution. Yr Servant, M. Williams Esq. Late surgeon to his Majesty's provincial forces