Yemmerrawanyea was given laxatives on 7 September, a mixture of bark between 12 and 18 September, and some sort of ointment from 9 to 16 September.
The person responsible for these "treatments" was a Dr Blane, who appears to have been Sir Gilbert Blane, physician to the fleet, who had been responsible for the introduction of citrus juice to prevent scurvy.
So, theoretically, he was a top notch doctor of the time. Indeed, he may have been, but such an assumption is not necessarily true.
And even if it is true, it doesn’t say much in light of the lack of knowledge of the time, and the belief in the efficacy of sometimes appalling treatments.
Yemmerrawanyea appears to have been sent to the country (to the unknown Edward Kent's house in Eltham, in which he later died) for 6 weeks to convalesce.
As the weather turned cold, he and Bennelong were provided with lots of warm clothing. Liniment was supplied for Yemmerrawanyea, but we don’t know why.
Then, in early December, the “treatments” start again. Laxatives, and possibly painkilling medicines were given. Bleeding was undertaken, possibly by leeches or cutting, either being equally repellent and equally useless.
Torture seems to have been the name of the day, as Blane administered blistering treatments, which were used to cause pain that was apparently supposed to counter other pain caused by illness.
Yemmerrawanyea was also given various medicines, including some made by bark, some that induced sweating, and some which appear to have been intended to fix up festering sores or wounds.
Several of these treatments also had the effect of being purgatives, and one appears to have contained the poison mercury chloride. But none of this worked. Unsurprisingly.
Yemmerrawanyea probably suffered at least as much from the “treatment” as he did from the illness or illnesses he had.
Whatever was wrong with him was weakening him, and so were his “treatments”: bleeding, laxatives, sweating, blisters, and so on would all have sent him closer to death.
This lady is having a tobacco smoke enema. It was, of course, absolutely useless for any of the conditions these horrible things were used for. Mind you, if Yemmerrawanyea was given one of these it would have been significantly better than some of the possible alternatives.
Gilbert Blane
One of the probable painkillers - laudanum, also known as "tincture of opium". There were quite a few variations on these, all made out of opium, but they were all, of course, addictive, and extremely bitter to the taste. Another result of their use was severe constipation. Hence, perhaps, the laxatives, which could take quite a number of forms, including enemas. One wonders what Yemmerrawanyea would have made of that if it was tried.
One of the forms of bloodletting. Others were leeches, or an artificial leech comprising a jabber of several needles.
Another method of bloodletting, poor bugger. The bloke doing the job doesn't look much happier than his patient.
This young woman (why is it always a young woman? Hmmmmm.) is about to get an enema. We don't know what of, except that instrument isn't for tobacco smoke. So it could be water, hot or cold, soup, ox gall, wine, urine, or urine plus coffee. Oh, yes, it could also be opium or tea. Is it our imaginations, or does that woman holding the enema look as though she's going to really enjoy this?
This appalling instrument is an artificial leech. Lex has had conflict with numerous leeches, and detests them with a passion. But he reckons he would rather a real leech any day. The doctor whacks a plunger and shoves the blades, probably blunt by the time the doctor gets to use it on you, into whatever part the doctor falsely believes will manage to effect a cure. In fact the doctor probably knows it won't do any good, but won't own up to that even if you use his own instruments on him.