The Mortar (A#26142)
Inadequate rest, poor diet and harsh living conditions wore down sailors, lowering their resistance to illness.
Disease claimed a death toll of 4-6% a year from the Royal Navy. This rate was, however, highly variable. In 1726, for example, fever killed over 4000 men of a fleet carrying 4750.
This brass apothecary's mortar has three lion heads set in relief around its outer surface. A "W" is etched into the bottom, indicating that it may have belonged to the original surgeon of the Whydah prior to her capture by Bellamy.
It was used to grind up and mix various substances as remedies for sick crewmen and captive Africans.
Bellamy’s surgeon, James Ferguson, is likely to have used this mortar to treat sick pirates.
Most frequently prescribed were tonics intended to strengthen those weakened by disease, particularly fever. The most popular was chinchona (also known as “Jesuit’s Bark”). Its quinine content helped treat some forms of malaria.
Next most often used were cathartics that were thought to flush unbalanced physical “humours” out of the body through the digestive system. Examples included castor oil, rhubarb, and calomel. Also used to remove “foul humours” were emetics such as ipecac.
For More Information
