John Atkins (naval surgeon)
Encyclopedia
John Atkins was a naval surgeon
.
Atkins received his professional education as a surgeon's apprentice, and immediately entered the navy. He records wounds which he treated in Sir George Rooke's victory off Malaga
(1703). In 1707 he was in some small actions with the French in the Channel
, and in 1710 he served in the Lion
man-of-war at the battle of Vaia Bay. The ship was commanded by Captain Galfridus Walpole, whose right arm was severely wounded. Atkins cut it off above the elbow and sat up two whole nights with the patient afterwards, ‘supposing a tenderness and respect would engage his good opinion and consequently his interest.’ This interested attention did not gain its object, for Captain Galfridus gave no thanks for it, being, as Atkins bitterly observes, ‘the reverse of his brother (Sir Robert), loving cheapness in all jobs’ (Navy Surgeon, 137). In February 1721 Atkins sailed from Spithead
for the coast of Guinea
with the Swallow
and the Weymouth
, sent to put down piracy on the west coast of Africa. They visited Sierra Leone
, Wydah, the Gaboon, Elmina
, and captured at Cape Lopez
270 pirates and 10,000l. in gold dust. When the pirates were tried, Atkins was made registrary, and complains that for twenty-six hard days' work he only received as many pounds. Three or four of the crew died every day for six weeks, and the surgeon became purser
for want of another survivor fit for the office. They sailed to Brazil
and the West Indies, where at Port Royal
a hurricane carried off the masts. In April 1723 the vessels returned to England and were paid off. Atkins was unsuccessful in getting another ship, and took to writing books.
He published two, both of which have had more than one edition. The ‘Navy Surgeon’ was published first (1732). It is a general treatise on surgery, with remarks on mineral springs, empirics, amulets, and infirmaries. It shows the author to have been an observant but somewhat prejudiced practitioner. The cases are clearly related, and are the best part of the book. Many surgical books are quoted, and enough of other books to show that Atkins was widely read. Horace
, Juvenal
, Pope, and Milton were known to him, and he admired also Stephen Duck
. This book appeared in a shorter form as ‘A Treatise on the following Chirurgical Subjects,’ &c., without date.
Atkins was one of the earliest scientists to be a proponent of the polygenist theory of human origins. In his book A Voyage to Guinea (1723) he said “I am persuaded that the black and white race have sprung from different coloured parents.”
In 1735 he published ‘A Voyage to Guinea, Brazil, and the West Indies.’ This describes the voyage of the Swallow and the Weymouth, and is full of interesting information about the slave trade and the natural history of the Gold Coast
. He describes the manatee
accurately, and tells much about fetish worship. He shows that there was no evidence of a general cannibalism
in any negro tribe, but mentions how an English captain made one slave eat the liver
of another as a punishment. He gives full accounts of the winds and currents, and leaves the impression that he was intelligent and truthful. An edition of the ‘Navy Surgeon’ in 1742 contains several additions.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
.
Atkins received his professional education as a surgeon's apprentice, and immediately entered the navy. He records wounds which he treated in Sir George Rooke's victory off Malaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
(1703). In 1707 he was in some small actions with the French in the Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, and in 1710 he served in the Lion
HMS Lion
Eighteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Lion, after the lion, an animal traditionally associated with courage, and also used in several heraldric motifs representing England, Scotland and the British Monarchy...
man-of-war at the battle of Vaia Bay. The ship was commanded by Captain Galfridus Walpole, whose right arm was severely wounded. Atkins cut it off above the elbow and sat up two whole nights with the patient afterwards, ‘supposing a tenderness and respect would engage his good opinion and consequently his interest.’ This interested attention did not gain its object, for Captain Galfridus gave no thanks for it, being, as Atkins bitterly observes, ‘the reverse of his brother (Sir Robert), loving cheapness in all jobs’ (Navy Surgeon, 137). In February 1721 Atkins sailed from Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
for the coast of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
with the Swallow
HMS Swallow
Thirty two ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Swallow, after the bird, the Swallow:*HMS Swallow was a ship launched in 1497 was a 53-gun ship launched in 1544, rebuilt in 1558 and 1580 and sold in 1603. was a discovery vessel listed in the Arctic in 1558 and captured by the Spanish in...
and the Weymouth
HMS Weymouth
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Weymouth, after the English town of Weymouth, whilst another two were planned:, a 14-gun ship, formerly the Royalist HMS Cavendish. She was captured in 1645 by the Parliamentarians, and was sold in 1662., a 48-gun fourth rate launched in 1693...
, sent to put down piracy on the west coast of Africa. They visited Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Wydah, the Gaboon, Elmina
Elmina
Elmina, is a town in the Central Region, situated on a south-facing bay on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana, about 12 km west of Cape Coast...
, and captured at Cape Lopez
Cape Lopez
Cape Lopez is a 55 km-long peninsula on the coast of west central Africa, in the country of Gabon. It separates the Gulf of Guinea from the South Atlantic Ocean, and is located at latitude -0.63° and longitude 8.7° . Lying in the delta of the Ogooué River, it shelters the seaport of Port-Gentil...
270 pirates and 10,000l. in gold dust. When the pirates were tried, Atkins was made registrary, and complains that for twenty-six hard days' work he only received as many pounds. Three or four of the crew died every day for six weeks, and the surgeon became purser
Purser
The purser joined the warrant officer ranks of the Royal Navy in the early fourteenth century and existed as a Naval rank until 1852. The development of the warrant officer system began in 1040 when five English ports began furnishing warships to King Edward the Confessor in exchange for certain...
for want of another survivor fit for the office. They sailed to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the West Indies, where at Port Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
a hurricane carried off the masts. In April 1723 the vessels returned to England and were paid off. Atkins was unsuccessful in getting another ship, and took to writing books.
He published two, both of which have had more than one edition. The ‘Navy Surgeon’ was published first (1732). It is a general treatise on surgery, with remarks on mineral springs, empirics, amulets, and infirmaries. It shows the author to have been an observant but somewhat prejudiced practitioner. The cases are clearly related, and are the best part of the book. Many surgical books are quoted, and enough of other books to show that Atkins was widely read. Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
, Juvenal
Juvenal
The Satires are a collection of satirical poems by the Latin author Juvenal written in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD.Juvenal is credited with sixteen known poems divided among five books; all are in the Roman genre of satire, which, at its most basic in the time of the author, comprised a...
, Pope, and Milton were known to him, and he admired also Stephen Duck
Stephen Duck
Stephen Duck was an English poet whose career reflected both the Augustan era's interest in "naturals" and its resistance to classlessness....
. This book appeared in a shorter form as ‘A Treatise on the following Chirurgical Subjects,’ &c., without date.
Atkins was one of the earliest scientists to be a proponent of the polygenist theory of human origins. In his book A Voyage to Guinea (1723) he said “I am persuaded that the black and white race have sprung from different coloured parents.”
In 1735 he published ‘A Voyage to Guinea, Brazil, and the West Indies.’ This describes the voyage of the Swallow and the Weymouth, and is full of interesting information about the slave trade and the natural history of the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (region)
The Gold Coast was the region of West Africa which is now the nation of Ghana. Early uses of the term refer literally to the coast and not the interior. It was not until the 19th century that the term came to refer to areas that are far from the coast...
. He describes the manatee
Manatee
Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows...
accurately, and tells much about fetish worship. He shows that there was no evidence of a general cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
in any negro tribe, but mentions how an English captain made one slave eat the liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
of another as a punishment. He gives full accounts of the winds and currents, and leaves the impression that he was intelligent and truthful. An edition of the ‘Navy Surgeon’ in 1742 contains several additions.