Mission

Ah, I finally got to the tobacco enema in my copy of Sydenham's book. This puts it at the end of the 17th century, definitely a period cure. "...forasmuch as the strongest purging Medicines, or indeed the least part of them can scarce pass the Guts, and cause a Stool. In this Case I think it is most advisable, first to bleed in the Arm, and an Hour or two after, to inject a strong Glister (enema). I reckon the Smoke of Tobacco, strongly blown up thro' a large Bladder into the Intestines by a Pipe inverted, __ to be the best and most effectual Glister I know, which may be repeated a little while after, unless the former by giving a Stool, open the Passage downwards. [Purging was categorized as going downwards (via enemas) and upwards (via vomiting). The exit from the stomach appears to have been the dividing line in purges according to the prevailing theories.] But this Symptom being not totally conquered by this Remedy, it is necessary that a Carthartick somewhat stronger be used, how difficult soever it be to make way. Take of the Pill ex duobus thirty five Grains, Mercurius dulcis one Scruple; make four Pills with a sufficient quantity of the Balsam of Peru: Take them in a Spoonful of Syrup of Violets. Drink no Liquor upon them, lest they should not be retained; but if the Sick should vomit this Remedy, we must proceed in this manner: Let him take presently twenty five Drops of liquid Laudanum in half an ounce of strong Cinnamon-water, and after a few Hours let it be repeated: But when the Vomiting and Pain of the Belly are abated by the use of these, then the foresaid Purge may be repeated again; for at this time it will be retained under the Protection of the Laudanum, and will at length perform its Business; but if the Vomiting and Pain should return again, by reason of the Virtue of the Anodyne [the Laudanum] is wholly decay'd, and the Purge should stop in the Body; in this Case, all HOpes from Stool being at present laid aside, we must return to the use of the Anodyne before described, which must be repeated every fourth or sixth Hour, till the Guts be wholy quiet, and the natural Motion downwards be restored; at which time the Purge, which has hitherto stopt in the Body, by reason of the contrary Motion of the Guts, will now operate by Stool..." (Sydenham, p. 423-4)

Here's something fun to read for ya' regarding Laudanum and dosages "...for I have found by Experience, that a Dysentery is most certainly and most speedily cures, if without any more ado, the Flux be presently stopt by Laudanum; for this Disease is so very violent and fierce, that if you go on in purging when the Dysentery is confirmed, there is great danger, lest it being heightened by this means, should by reason of its incredible Ferment, torment the Patient longer, do afterwards what you can, or perhaps kill him. Therefore being called, I presently gave him about twenty two Drops of liquid Laudanum, in Epidemick Water, or in Aqua Mirabilis, or the like, to be repeated twice in the space of twenty four Hours or oftner at set times, if the Dose prescribed to be used only Morning and Evening, be not sufficient to quell the Gripes and the Bloody Stools. The Excrement being a little thickened, or of a better Consistence (which is the first sign of Recovery) and the Symptoms being vanquished, I suppose it is safest for the Patient to continue for some time in the use of the aforesaid Medicine, Morning and Evening, taking some Drops daily, till there be no farther occasion. But is is to be observed, that I order the Sick to keep his Bed longer after the use of the Anodyne [referring to the Laudanum]; for any erect Posture soon disturbs the Head, unless the Patient sleep long enough after it." (Sydenham, p. 422) That is a lot of freaking Laudanum. No wonder people got hooked.

I wonder what the point of making this video was? What is the purpose? Who is the audience? It sort of seems like it's directed at re-enactors complaining about not being able to stage battles, but if that's the case they would have been better off to say nothing and just deny those asking to do that directly rather than giving us a presentation piece around which to gather our complaints. It all seems very strange to me, unless it wasn't meant for the general public. In which case...who is the audience? What is the purpose? What I find really funny is that we think any piece of land is sacred. I don't see it. The memory of what happened is far more important than the real estate. No matter how much they try to preserve such a thing, the landscape changes naturally over time and the only way to preserve it in toto is to keep restoring it back to what it was. (And they've had so much luck with that in the past. ) Of course, I also don't see why it is so great to re-enact in the same place as something happened, but I'm not even remotely sentimental for such stuff and that's a personal opinion; yours is likely different. "Stop! Stop! You can't go in there! You're not allowed in there! This is the King's private garden! You're standing on royal ground!" "Royal ground? You mean to say that dis ground is better than dat ground over there?" "Yes, it 'tis!" "Oh, I don't know... Now you take this piece of ground over here. Now here's a nice piece of property! Level...fruit trees...choice view...improvements already in... Ehh...what type a' house was ya' plannin'? "Well, I, uh...I sort of had a six room Tudor in mind." "Den dis is just the place for you! An' it's priced just right! But, eh, first, eh...are you a vet'ran?" "Oh, I'm uh..." "Good! Den it will be easy!" Here! Just sign on the dotted line." "Well, uh...couldn't I call you later? Uh...you see, I uh..." "Well, I dunno. You see there was a couple here from Kansas City lookin' at dis place dis morning. And dey..." "All right! I'll sign! I'll sign! Here!" "You'll never regret it my friend, dis place'll double in value inside a' six months!"

I think it should always have been this way. I'm always so busy during the day that it's sometimes difficult to sit down and eat something that someone has painstakingly prepared. Being able to wander over to the little table to grab some cheese, fruit or bread during a lull is much more convenient. As for dinner, I'm always interested gathering some willing participants in an expedition to the local eateries (say in the Arena District), but I don't want to snub the folks who have spent so much time and effort planning and preparing a meal. This way those who don't want to dine out can bring and prepare food and those who want to venture forth can do so without guilt. Flexibility. A goodness.

I check all the member apps to the forum, so I'm pretty sure you're not a spambot. However, since you're selling something, this really belongs in the Thieves Market. I'm going to move it there. (That is the real reason it's not a good idea to join a forum and immediately start pimping something - you don't really know the lay of the land. )

Here's another article from the Courier-Journal, featuring some quotes from our own Rusty Spike. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110814/NEWS02/308140110/Roguish-re-enactors-camp-Historic-Tunnel-Mill?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

Say, this is kind of neat. You can see what the mysterious Guests are viewing by clicking on the 'See full list' link which is located next to the on line user info near the bottom of the forum on the index page. (I noticed several of them are viewing various surgeon threads in Twill when I looked. )

This is from Dr. Thomas Sydenham's book, The Whole Works of that Excellent Practical Physician Dr. Thomas Sydenham, 10th Edition. As I read it, I wondered what prompted them to set up shops on the ice. Perhaps because the novelty of the situation caused so many people to go out there? "...and on this Account we must likewise take notice, that the last two Years of the Constitution* now going off, had two very severe Winters, especially the last save one, viz. the Year 1683; in which the Season was so vehemently cold, that no Man living ever saw the like as to the intense degree of the Cold, and the long Time it held; for the noble River of Thames was so froze, that it easily sustained, like a solid Pavement, Coaches running about upon it, and Shops well furnished in the manner of Streets, and great Crouds of People. Tho the following Year 84 did not equal the preceding, either as to the Extremity of Cold, or obstinate Duration of it, yet it did not come much behind it as to either; but as it thawed in February in the year 85, this Fever began that I now treat of..." (Sydenham, p. 409) * The precise meaning of 'Constitution' here is not entirely clear to me, but it refers to an epidemic fever. My thought is that he means its composition, although that doesn't seem to quite fit either.

There was a legend? Captain Twill who robbed from the textile manufacturers and gave at the Red Cross....

Stynky does not seem to know nor was he one of the original members. Based on this post the Pub was started in February 10, 2003 by Angus McVox (who is now considered a stowaway, which means his account is no longer valid.) Stynky joined in May of 2003 making him one of the early members. Bilgmunkey joined February 15, making him one of the first members. Of those still active, Littleneckhalfshell appears to be the only one of the founding members. (This doesn't mean they will know why this is called Captain Twill, though.) I also believe that what we now call Twill was originally the only forum. It was split into other forums sometime in early 2003 (based in part on this post.) From what I can tell which the original forums included what we now call the Crow's Next, Beyond Piracy and Pirate Pop.

What does that mean? Has anyone been around here long enough to know why the general history forum is called Captain Twill?

Ah, a GAoP era procedure that you won't soon forget (especially if you're a guy.) This is from James Yonge's book Currus Triumphalis, é Terebinthô. "Observation IX. Anno. 76. A young Man about twenty years old, living with Alderman W. (whose Nephew he was) from some disappointment in Love, as was imagined, or rather as himself confessed, on a Religious account, to cure salacious heats, did castrate himself, by griping up the Testicles, with the whole Scrotum in one hand, and with a keen Knife in the other cutting them off close to the body; the sudden pain and effusion of bloud made him faint and fall back on the Bed, where he sat while the thus acted Origen Secundus. He bled very largely before any one discovered it: when I came, finding such a large flux[of blood], and the __ man much weakned, I hastily griped up the Wound in my hand, thereby stopping the excess of the Hemorrhage; while Mr. Munyon prepared the Dressings:when they were ready, withdrawing my hand to make way for their application, the bloud forthwith spouted out, as it had been from a small quill [ha ha]: but we soon stopped it, by laying on the divided Vasa buttons of Tow [little wads of linen tied to resemble a button] dipt in the hot Oil of Terebinth [Turpentine]; and over all a large Pledget [bandage] dipt in the same: over which we also put two or three Plegets more armed with the common Defensative and boulsters of Linnen, moistned with Posca [a mixture of vinegar, water & herbs], and so rouled him up: the bloud instantly staunched, but the refraction thereof threw him into a Syncope [he fainted again], together with coldness of the extream parts, no pulse, &c. I concluded Death would follow; we gave him a glass of Sack [common Spanish wine] while the following mixture was preparing, of which he afterwards drank liberally, till his spirits were recovered to a good degree; Rx. Aq. Miabilis, Flor. parlysios, Melissæ, Corasor. nigr. an {ounce}iij, Spec. cons. Hyacinth. {dram}j. Pulv guttatæ {scruple}ij. misce. We opened the Wound next day, found tokens of good digestion [beginnings of healing in the wound], and as fair as heart could wish. It was long e're he could __ recruit his spirits, so much exhausted by the Hemorrhage; but the wound in a months time was almost cicatrized [healed over with new skin], so as he followed his business." (Yonge, p. 76-8)

I found something that supports William's assertion about knives and even provides a little bit of insight into a sailor's knife and where he kept it. It's from James Yonge's book Currus Triumphalis, é Terebinthô. "I was sent for to a Dutch Seaman, __ who being gotten drunk, threw himself into his Cabbin with all his Cloaths on: it unluckily fell out, that he had in his Pocket a sharp-pointed Knife, such as they usually carry, and that it lay in so ill a posture, that the weight of his body forced the point through sheath and cloaths, and run up above three inches (entring about the middle of the Thigh) obiquely towards his buttocks, so that the point might be an inch and half directly in from the skin, under which it lay..." (Yonge, p. 72-3)

You know...reading Foxe's post reminds me of something, but memory of it is a bit vague... at least one of the surgeons whose journals I read served for a time with another European country's navy because he couldn't get a posting on an English ship. Since such things aren't usually of interest to me, I don't keep notes on them, but I want to say it was James Yonge. It also seems to me that William Clowes (late 16th century) may have served on another nation's ships at the beginning of his career as well. I know he read German, but I don't know if he spoke it or not. Somewhere I also have a list of the extensive number of ships that Edward Barlow served on (it's in an appendix to his second book) and that may be of interest to you as well. I believe he served on some non-English ships during his time, although I am not entirely certain. I will try to remember to find it and scan it in a post a link to it here.

N'kay, this is from Charles Allen's 1685 book The Operator for the Teeth, the first English book on dentistry. That latter part of it is a theoretical procedure rather than something that happened (as far as I know), but it's too fascinating for me not to post it somewhere, not the least of which reason is that it potentially involves goats. “…there are still some help for it [lost teeth], the natural want may be supplied artificially, and herein Art imitates Nature so naitly, that when the succedaneous Teeth (if I may so speak) are well set in, they cannot be distinguished from the natural ones, (neither in colour, firmness, nor proportion) but by them that known of it. Being thus exactly fitted to their place, they will keep the next to them, and by consequence all the rest of that Jaw abundantly firmer and stronger than they would otherwise be. The Advantages that may be attributed to the artificial Teeth, are many; as that they keep the others fast, as we said just now, that they are of a great ornament, and help pronunciation extremely, &c. But all that is with a Proviso, that they be well made, and according to the best Art; for otherwise they might prove quite contrary. Besides this Artificial way of repairing the loss of __ Teeth, there is another that may be called Natural; which is done by taking out the rotten Teeth or stumps, and putting in their places some sound ones, drawn immediately after out of some poor body’s head: which thing (tho difficult) I know to be feasible enough, not only by my own reason that tells me so, but by experience it self, as (to say no more at present) may be instanced in the case of a certain Lady, who thinking to have two Teeth growing one on top of another, come one day to my Master to have one of them Drawn; my Master told her that they were not two distinct Teeth, but only a double one; but the Lady being not satisfied with this, desired him to take out the Tooth she had told him of, let it be what it would. The Tooth being drawn out, and proving as my Master had said, it was quickly set again into the Jaw; and with the use of some convenient and proper Remedies, became in few weeks to be as firm again as any of the rest. And yet although the event in this particular had not proved so prosperous as it did; its ill success would not destroy in me the possibility of such a transplanting, or Inoculation of Teeth; (if I may be permitted to use such terms) that was not the only motive I had to believe it; and I have not inserted the Story of it here as an Argument to prove invincibly what I say, but only as a proper Example to render probably to others what I know to be true. However, I do not like that method of drawing Teeth out of some folks heads, to put them into others, both for its being too __ inhumane, and attended with too many difficulties; and then neither could this be called the restauration of Teeth, since the reparation of one, is the ruine of another; it is only robbing of Peter to pay Paul. But if instead of humane Teeth, there is use made of those of some Brutes, as Dogs, Sheep, &c. In such case I do not only approve of it as lawful and facile, but do also esteem it as very profitable and advantageous; only care is to be had, that the thing be undertaken, and carried on by one that at least knows something of Anatomy, and has a right sense of the thing to be done, being furnished with whatever is necessary in an Operation of that nature. And that (if my Opinion may be any wise serviceable in such an Attempt) I may contribute something towards the improvement of so useful an Invention; I think one I, to proceed in it somewhat after this manner. First, I would chuse an Animal whose Teeth should come nearest to those of the Patient; as a Dog, a Sheep, a Goat, or a Baboon, &c. and having tied his legs together, I would fasten his head in some convenient place, so that he might not stir in the least, and by some proper means keep his mouth open as long as I should have occasion: that done, I would open the Gums round the Tooth to be taken out of his head, not only to the very Jaw-bone, but as far between the said Bone and the Tooth, as the finest Instrument could go, leaving a very little portion of the Gums about it; and then having used the same circumspection, in dividing the Patients Tooth from the __ Gums, and the Jaw-bone, I would draw it forth, and put immediately in its place that of of [sic] the Brute; fastning it very well and streight [tight] between the other Teeth: and then with the use suitable Remedies [medicines], I do not question in the least but that it would unite to the Gums and Jaw-bone, and in a little time become as fast as any of the others: which performance might properly be termed the natural Restauration, or Renovation of Humane Teeth.” (Charles Allen, p. 20-2)

Cool. That looks like a good book to add to my read list. Thanks for posting the link!

Welcome! There are a lot of cool events in Florida - the two I have attended are at Searle's Raid (St Augustine, March) and Pirates in Paradise (Key West, December). There are many more - check out the events forum.

(A lot of us are quite vocal about it, not better.) Join the Mercury crew and come to an event. ('s fun).

Interesting that the qualifying course requirement occurred during our period. It definitely goes along with the concept of standardizing medicine. Most surgeons during period were apprenticed for 7 years and then had to take an oral test with surgeons of the Barber-Surgeon's Company to become practicing surgeons. (There were other levels of competence in the organization as well.) The Navy wanted fast results, for obvious reasons. They were also involved in searching for medicines that would be quick-fixes. I remember reading this long article on how they put their money behind some such medicine to cure Scurvy despite the fact that (based on the ingredients) it wouldn't do much good.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I have been upgrading all my Surgeon's Journals to my new web page format one by one and this one was next. Normally I wouldn't post here just to tell you that, but one of the things I needed to do to this Journal is add the photographer credits to it. That meant searching through all the photo archives that are still around and that meant finding new photos that I wanted to capture and put into my journal. So I have added new content to the Epilogue page. If you want to revisit the PiP '07 Surgeon's Journal, just click on that link back there.

From Mary Diamond's album...a picture of Richard! He's the second guy from right with the white beard. His is a key force behind our northern version of PiP: Pirate Fest in Put-in-Bay. (You can see what I mean in the latest Surgeon's Journal.)

I should go back and find some of your 2003 posts - I recall one where you seemed to be quite excited about having joined a pirate forum... (Not sure where it was, but I do recall seeing it while skulking about the thread basement.)

Wow... I found this post while looking in the this forum's archives. (I'm trying to figure out who I stole photos from to create my first PiP Surgeon's Journal in 2007. I didn't start giving photo credits until the next journal.)

You should have said, "We are amused (but slightly)."