#william beatty

[hoppityhopster23]

Why is it that napoleonic era medical professionals have to be so good looking? Like- look at this:

Guthrie

Beatty

Larrey

James

they're all adorable! at least to me.

the type that I would throw myself out the window to break my leg if it meant 20 minutes to bask in their beauty. I'm kidding. maybe.

[verecunda]

That’s ten years - ten years! - to the day since I saw (and held!!!) William Beatty’s surgical instruments.

That was such a special day, but my God, how was it ten whole years ago? :O

Anyway, did I ever tell you about the time I got to see and hold William Beatty’s surgical kit? Because I did. 

The memory still makes me all like

[illustratus]

The Death of Nelson, 21 October 1805

by Arthur William Devis

[clove-pinks]

Surgeon Beatty’s medicine chest, 1803

This naval surgeon’s medicine cabinet is of rectangular form with two doors, each fitted with two rows of bottle racks, which open to reveal two long drawers and four racks, the reverse with a disguised sliding panel which has to be opened by a secret catch, concealing four further bottle racks, the top inset with a brass plaque stating ‘William Beatty Warranted Surgeon RN 1803.’ English.

Born in Ireland, Sir William Beatty FRS (1773 – 1842) joined the Royal Navy as surgeon’s mate in 1793 and saw service through the French war. In December 1804, he was appointed naval surgeon to Victory famously attending to Admiral Lord Nelson after he received his mortal wound at the Battle of Trafalgar. On return to England, Beatty performed the autopsy on board Victory and published his bestselling ‘Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson’ (1807). He subsequently bequeathed the ball which killed the admiral to Queen Victoria.

(Text from Wick Antiques Ltd.)

[memecunian]

(he did)

Admiral Horatio Nelson, died at The Battle of Trafalgar 1805. His last words were “Kiss me Hardy”, but many tried to later pass it off as “kismet” to avoid embarrassment.

[ltwilliammowett]

Surgical instruments of Naval Surgeon William Beatty, ca. 1800

The wooden box containing instruments including a screw tourniquet, an amputation knife with detachable handles, two trephines and forceps. Inset into the box lid, behind a velvet-covered panel, are more instruments, including a fine-toothed bow saw, a knife, a hook and forceps.

Beatty was 1805 the Surgeon aboard HMS Victory and took care of Nelson after his deadly injury.

[verecunda]

I wrote a paragraph. It has absolutely nothing to do with anything else I’m writing, and I’ve got no story to attach it to, but it amused me, so I’m sticking it here. :P

In his little cabin, tucked away in the very stern of the orlop, the Victory’s surgeon William Beatty was pouring himself a tot of brandy, in honour of his having got through another week without being court-martialled. In fact, he had only ever been court-martialled once, and that ten years ago, but he habitually sailed so close to the wind in point of plain speaking to senior officers, that every week he saw out without being dismissed the service seemed to him deserving of recognition.

[captainknell]

That's cool!