Bridget Ryan

343

Maureen Withey on 6th December 2021

Tasmanian Indents for Kinnear. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON15-1-5$init=CON15-1-5p51 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON15-1-5$init=CON15-1-5p52 Bridget Ryan, tried at Tipperary, 8 Apr 1848, 7 years. Died at sea, 29 Sep 1848. -------------------------------------------------- Surgeon’s Journal of Her Majesty’s Female Convict Ship Kinnear, Mr J. G. Williams, Surgeon. Between the 2nd May and 14th October 1848. Adm. 101-040-06 Put in the Sick List at sea 3rd Aug 1848, Bridget Ryan, age 23, convict, Disease: Catarrhus, 15th Augt. Discharged. Put in the Sick List at sea, 24th Sept 1848, Bridget Ryan, 23, convict, Premature Labour, Died 29th Sept. The Surgeon recorded her case in detail: Bridget Ryan, Æt. 24 Convict was put on the sick list at sea 24th Sept. Removed into the hospital the same day died on the 29th Sept. 1848. Cause: Puerperal Fever. This woman was removed into the hospital on the morning of the 24th Sept. with symptoms of labour, being seven months gone with child. On the morning of the 25th I was sent for in a hurry to the hospital where I found the child (a 7 months one) and placenta, in the Nurse’s lap, who was sitting in a chair, and who informed me, that Ryan had been delivered about 5 minutes back; on further enquiry I learnt that the child and placenta had been expelled by one and the same action of the uterus, which appears contracted rapidly, when the woman was in a kneeling position, after tying & dividing the umbilical cord, I enquired of the mother how she felt; quite well was the reply. 40 drops of laudanum in a small quantity of water were administered at the same time she expressed herself quite comfortable. Vespere. Has had some sleep, and feels quite comfortable, notwithstanding which, there is some heat of skin, with a quick small pulse; also complains of thirst, bowels open, having taken a dose of Castor Oil on her admission into the hospital. This evening complains of slight pain in the hypogastric region. has had again 60 drops of laudanum in a little peppermint water, and has taken in the course of the day some thin gruel, but no stimulating food of any kind nor drink. 26th Passed a restless night complains this morning of great purging, with which she has been troubled all night, great tenderness of the abdomen when touched, the lochial discharge very small in quantity, pulse frequent small, & sometimes possesses considerable hardness, passes urine freely, countenance expressive of anguish, great thirst, Applied hot fomentations to the abdomen. Vespere, - has been excessively restless all day, and complains of diarrhoea, with pains in the hypogastric region, with nausea and vomiting occasionally. Applicand. Emplast. Lyttæ ad regio hypogastric. An Anodyne draught was also administered the last night at night. 27th Passed a better night, no pain in the abdomen, blister risen, and dressed, pyrexia not so great, diarrhoea still very troublesome, faeces of a brown watery appearance, and without any foetor, slight nausea and vomiting, countenance haggard and yellow, has taken thin gruel also a little soup. Rx. Hydrarg. Submuriat gr iij Opii Colati gr ij fiat Pilula omnia hora sumendus Vespere – she is free from pain in the abdomen, but in other respects continues much in the same state as in the morning, vomiting more frequent this evening. Rx. Magnesia Carbon, gr x Tinct. Opii gttæ 60 Aq. Menth. Pip. Zifs fiat Haust. statim sumendus. This draught if retained on the stomach was to be repeated at midnight, if awake. 28th Passed a better night, and is free from pain, retained both draughts ordered last night, this morning there is decided change for the worse, the Puerperal fever having assumed the typhoid form with great prostration of strength, and depression of the nervous system generally, together with the rejection of everything taken into the stomach the lochial and alvine discharges are also totally supervened, she has taken during the day frequent doses of Calomel & opium without any great effect. Vespere – continue much in the same state as in the morning great debility having supervened, has had wine & water, and nourishing diet none of which remained on the stomach any length of time. The same draughts were ordered as last night, with directions to be repeated at midnight if retained on the stomach. 29th Passed another restless night, but is free from pain in the abdomen, debility greater with all the typhoid systems, assuming a more marked & prominent character, with wonderful depression of the cerebral powers, and consequent prostration of strength, and the rejection of everything taken into the stomach, foetid sordes gather about the teeth, pulse weak and scarcely to be felt in the wrist, extremities getting cold, so as to require artificial warmth. She is rapidly sinking, has taken during the day the same Medicaments that were administered yesterday, also wine Vespere – she is in a moribund state, fast sinking, eyes sunk in the head with a vacant glassy stare, great yellowness of the skin with tension of the abdomen, extreme anxiety, and perpetual restlessness, viscid cold sweat, and shortly before dissolution (which took place at 8P.M.) she exhibited a most complicated scene of misery seldom to be witnessed – she had been for many years a girl on the town with a weak constitution, although possessing a large frame of body, this was the fourth child she had given birth to, all at seven months of congestion, - the child she gave birth to on board the Kinnear Convict ship lived but a few hours.