Albert Henry Blake Military

[littlefacey]

Hi all!

Can someone help transcribe the second document for me?
The person in question is Albert Henry Blake - 2377, Somersetshire Light Infantry.

The first one i've kinda read.. but struggling a little on the general remarks.. 'Habits irregular and ?. Conduct Bad?' What would they means by habits irregular?


Thank you in advance!

[Wiggy]

Sounds as if he wasn't behaving himself in the military manner doesn't it.

Being invalided home and discharged on arrival  . . . . and he had sec(ondary) syphilis so that could explain what they meant by bad and intemperate behaviour.  i.e. Where he had picked up the syphilis.

The second form seems to be a list of trips to the medical officer for various treatments while serving  at various military bases around England.     

The first one says ulcer of penis - contagion mild, rd(?), local.
                                                 No Mercury was given

And the rest go on   Inflammation of glands, inflammation of glands of neck etc. etc. etc.   

I suspect all to do with symptoms of syphilis.

Poor bloke seems to have been in a bad way.

Wiggy

[McGroger]

"Habits", I think refers to his diet. So "Habits irregular and intemperate. Conduct bad" means he didn't eat properly, drank too much and behaved badly (in general as well as with bad women).

[littlefacey]

Well well well... tut tut! lol

As the columns are cut off at the top im not 100% what all the date columns mean?
 

[Wiggy]

"Habits", I think refers to his diet. So "Habits irregular and intemperate. Conduct bad" means he didn't eat properly, drank too much and behaved badly (in general as well as with bad women).

Hey there, Peter!!! . Not so much of the 'bad women' talk!     

Habits could also mean wasn't back in camp at right time  etc, - but I agree with the excessive drinking, probably, and visiting  the 'ladies'  (or men!)

Hard to tell, but I am guessing one of the date columns would be when he was posted to that 'camp', and one of them will be his Medical visits - guessing without column headings

Wiggy

p.s.    He didn't have to have been too bad to have caught syphilis in the first place - just very unlucky and in those days there was no effective cure for it.  So once he had it, he had it.
And from that list of medical visits it seems to have progressed from his first with mild contagion to the last secondary S . .  and his being invalided out.

He certainly wasn't alone with the disease either.

[littlefacey]

Im slowly trying to decipher the second image... please correct me where i am wrong!

I've put little questions / thoughts in italic..


Taunton 9 Nov 88

Aldershot 26.7.89          (im guessing this is training?)

H.M.S Serapis 28.1.91     (left for India?)

Bombay 26.2.91             (arrived in India)

? 6.3.91  ? Penis - Contagion, Mild, Rd, Local (what does Rd, Local mean? Local anesthetic?)
                           No Mercury was given (what would this be for?)   

Bellary 5.5.91 Ulcer of the Penis - Uncertain, Mild (R) Local (what does the (r) mean? and whats uncertain?)   

? Large Glands Neck? - Uncertain, Severe (R) Local

? Large Glands Neck? - Uncertain, Severe (R) Local & General

(place ?) 1.3.92 - Admission?

Bellary 1.4.92 ? Lymph Glands Neck - ? Mild, Improved Local & ?

Agul?? - Climatic? Mild, ?, Quinine? (what would he be taking quinine for?)

 
Cant read any of the red writing?

?? - Mild, R, Accident ? on duty, Local

Count of Enquiry - Opinion? duties of ?, Accident ? on duty, ? ? ?


Then i cant read anything listed below of this?
 

[Wiggy]

Not sure but I think the (R)  might be 'right'

 -  I couldn't think what might be appropriate for Rd.
I think the local indicates localized. 

Mercury   http://theconversation.com/in-a-world-with-no-antibiotics-how-did-doctors-treat-infections-53376 

Uncertain - Dr's not sure if it was Syphilis at this stage maybe??   

Quinine was frequently given for Malaria - or against the contraction of Malaria - so that could be the reason for that, specially if he was in/had been in India.   
(Ague is fever with shaking due to the fever - common symptom of Malaria)

Just trying to reply to your queries - when this is posted I will go back and read the attachment again. 

[Wiggy]

You can read the dates and numbers.   

First lot of red writing
Rq?  Vaccinated 23.10.92 Result - Perfect  (can't read surgeon's name  ?m Cowan) Surg(eon) Major                        HMS (His Majesties Services?)

Next lot
Court of Enquiryheld 31st Jan 93. Opinion - Accident - not on duty. not likely  to interfere with his
                                                               duties as a soldier.  M Cow.. Surg Major (same man)

              Sprain (back)   ?? Strapped and bandaged. Rest        N Halloran   (I think)

               Sec. Syph(ilis)     Rash on body and pain in joints.  Constitutional
                            Mercury and Iodide of Potassium, Mercurial baths    W J Johnston

                     do (ditto)      Constitutional Mercury Pot Iodide

                    do                         "  "         Sarsparilla                   H(?)     N Halloran

                                               "    "          Mercury   Pot Iodide                "  "

         Invalided               Has improved during ?? ^Diet now       ?  Reilly
                                                                                      much better      B...? 

Hope this is some help.

Wiggy