Feb 042019
 


The British Medical Journal archive  http://www.bmj.com/archive is a great resource for finding out more about historical health aspects, as the letters and case reports were very detailed. (You may need to access it at an institutional library).
 
Often in-depth descriptions were given of living and working conditions. You can find lists of infectious disease outbreaks around the country and later most hospital published regular reports.
 
However it is not the place most would expect to be of direct genealogical  value but you would be mistaken. 
 
“Oh,  you mean it has information about Doctors but I don’t have any of them in my family.”
 

Yes, it is true there is a lot of biographical information about doctors in the  British Medical Journal (and the Medical Journals of other countries). It has information about where they trained, where they practised and this might be anywhere in the world. Often there are entries of births, marriages and deaths as well as lists  of promotions particularly during war time. Note: this is true of many professional or trade journals so well worth a look.

The privacy concerns of today were not in evidence in the past regarding patients. Many case (patient) reports in the past gave the full name, age and town of residence! Be prepared for some fairly blunt descriptions of the patients as well. 

BMJ 20 March 1841 Guy’s Hospital
John Goss, a well proportioned man of intemperate habits about 33 late Captain of the Wynot, which a fortnight since returned from Lisbon laden with oranges was admitted into Guy’s Hospital on the Monday march 1 1841. He had been staying at the Anchor and Castle tavern in Tooley Street and had been under the influence of spirituous liquor.
BMJ 27 March 1841 Guys Hospital
Samuel Harlow about 18, short in stature, but well proportioned having dark curling hair and dark complexion was admitted to Guy’s Hospital due to progressing mortification of the right hand. He states that during the last seven or eight years his health has been very good. (had injury to hand necessitated amputation, three pages of daily medical reports. He survived.
BMJ 25 September 1841 Royal Berkshire Hospital
Rachel Pembroke a pale delicate looking girl about 24 was brought to the hospital in the evening of the 24thof October (?1840) having received an injury to the shoulder through a heavy piece of chalk falling on it from a considerable height while she was engaged in filling baskets at the bottom of a well nearly ninety feet deep. Was treated and movement was restored. (Nov 5 she was discharged from hospital in consequence of her being found to be pregnant) Dec 4 She has been using stimulating liniments and can use the joint except that of raising the limb into the elevated position.
BMJ 26 June 1841 Royal Berkshire Hospital

Samuel Farley about 28, a healthy, muscular man guard to a night train on the Great Western Railroad. Admitted May 19th due to dislocation of radius and ulna caused by his having fallen from a truck and pitching with great force on his hand the train at the time being in rapid motion. Discharged June 1 . June 7 back at work and arm working well. .