Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.2011, Qupperneq 95

94 ÁRBÓK FORNLEIFAFÉLAGSINS
conditions, no possibility of cleaning, lack of privacy and social isolation were
additional causes of stress along with staying in total institution for long periods.
It is possible that frequent change of crews is the result of melancholy and
mental stress. An inspection of the ages of sailors shows that most of hands
on the fishing vessels were young. Most stopped working there in their early
thirties and few were older than 45, showing that this was back-breaking work.
It was a legal duty to have a medicine chest aboard Icelandic ships since 1890.
Each one contained a medical book, medicine and supplies, e.g. for dressing
wounds. The medicine was both for use externally and internally and it was used
against fever, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, pain etc. Among the medicines
were quinine, castor oil and opium drops. Alcohol was a part of the vessels board
and the captain was allowed to give it out in extreme circumstances before the
prohibition liquor of 1915. Drinking was very common in harbours and to
some extent it was possible to get alcohol after the ban came into effect.
The main ailments suffered by the crews were external problems, especially
on their hands. Stiffness and wounds on hands, abscesses, inflammation
and irritation in skin were a common part of hand angling and in addition
tendovaginitis which was also common on French vessels in Icelandic waters.
Serious or life threatening abscesses in hands, seem to have been very rare.
Illnesses that were not directly connected to the work were especially measles,
typhoid fever, bronchitis and flu. It was generally the captain’s job to attend to
the sick, cut open abscesses and dress wounds, which usually were minor, but
work accidents were infrequent. Fishermen were usually not brought to land
unless the sickness was very serious.
Seasickness was common among beginners but they usually got over it after
a few days though some were in bad shape much longer, some even for weeks.
No cure for seasickness was known but it was generally thought good to get on
deck and start fishing. In addition some folklore cures were known and these
were used. No examples are known of personal bullying even though the cook
was sneered at if he did not perform his job adequately. Accidents at sea were
numerous, ships were lost and fishermen fell overboard and drowned. The causes
were many, especially bad weather, ill equipped ships, unsatisfactory examination
of the ships, and lack of saving equipment. Risky behaviour, common among
sailors, has possibly increased carelessness and in this way raised the possibility of
more accidents. Sailors who fell ill or were wounded aboard ships were entitled
to free health care for four weeks after 1890 and a life insurance after 1904, the
first such in Iceland, and later disability compensation.