Travel Diaries and Journals

James Adam diary: 1857-1863 (Ms. Codex 1948)

Diary comprising two volumes spanning the years from 1857 to 1863 written by James Adam. Volume 1 contains Adam's descriptions his journey from Scotland to India as a medical officer. On August 15, 1857 Adam departed from London on a steamer ship the Candia. He wrote of his sea voyage including officers he traveled with, the weather, landscapes, missing his family, sea sickness, and miles traveled. He arrived at Kalkota on November 5, 1857. Adam worked at a hospital and witnessed a portion of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In February 1858 Adam was deployed to the ship Belgravia to take charge of the wounded and sick at the South African Cape. He traveled with his servant Harold. Once anchored at Table Bay Adam described the native people, seeing Dr. Livingstone. Adam noted he had a muster of forty natives whom he reluctantly treated for skin diseases. There is a copy of a letter to his parents and pencil drawings of the Cape of Good Hope. On the journey back to Calcutta there was an incident with the captain regarding ailing horses. In June 1858 Adam mentioned seeing cholera cases, reading Waston and works on homeopathy. Adam also worked off of the H.M.S. Proserpine. In March 1859 Adam began his voyage back to England on the Ivanhoe he mentioned playing chess and catching fish. Reading volume 1 from back to front are poems and songs. One of the poems was "written on board the Candia". Tables of daily latitude and longitude for the voyages to India and England are in the volume. Some accounting of receipts and expenditures is in the volume. Adam arrived back in Edinburgh on August 5, 1859. Volume 2 commences in 1861. In sporadic entries Adam described his arrival and work at Bethnal House Asylum with Dr. Ritchie. and Dr. Miller. In August 1863 Adam wrote of his trip to Scotland and attending a wedding in Portobello. He mentioned seeing family members in Edinburgh. Reading volume 2 from back to front is a clipping of an epitaph for Lord Clyde pasted over writing in pencil. Adam wrote an autopsy of a young woman named Ann Jones aged 23. A majority of volume 2 is blank. Inscribed on the first leaf of volume 1: J. F. Adam journal, commenced August 13, 1857 on leaving home for the first time to sail for India. Inscribed on the last leaf of volume 1: James F. Adam, Surgeon, H.M.S. Proserpine. Volume 2 is inscribed: Private, Jame Adam M.D., January 20, 1861. https://franklin.library.upenn.edu/catalog/FRANKLIN_9977359130603681

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Rigor Mortis gone off. 52 hours after body well nourished death Acute Phthisis Pulmonalis

Ann Jones (Aet 23) Duration 2 months Head. Membranes strongly adherent to Calvarium Brain substance healthy. A considerable quantity of serum. None in the ventricles.

Chest.

Heart. Pericardium. Contains a good deal of fluid. Structure healthy but pale ventri- cles contained hard coagula of blood. Valves. Good.

Lungs: On cutting thro' root of right lung a gush of matter took place. From a cavity opened into. Apex of right lung free from tubercle. about mid: of middle lobe a cavity 1 inch in diameter & numerous scattered tubercles & small cavities Apex of left lung contained a few tubercles Sm: cavities containing pus in the rest of the lung substance no fluid effused but adhesionof the back part of left lung to wall of chest. over a large surface Spleen much enlarged & solid & con

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released [struck through: sooner than] from bodily ill sooner than otherwise. He dies a soldier's death unflinching to the end no cry for mercy had escaped those lips now pale in death Young Albert reads this he thinks of his friends at home of the grief of his mother & he [struck through: knows that] makes a solemn vow to have revenge. [struck through: they ar] the ship arrives at Galle at Madras. at first there is news of the Capture of Delhi a tremendous cheering burst from the lips of everyone on board, followed by regret that they had not had their share in the retribution to the savages. The ship arrives at Calcutta the passengers disembark the troops go to Fort William there to wait orders for going up country II

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Dendendaloom

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