The Surgeon aboard ship performed operations but was also responsible for the treatment of all forms of disease encountered by the crew. The standard varied considerably and the patient’s chance of survival was very dependent on the knowledge and the skill of the surgeon. Little was understood at this time about the nature of dsease and most treatments, dietary, herbal or blood letting, were applied to adjust the imbalance of the 4 humours which people thought were the cause of most diseases.
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