Page 134
Apologies for another small update this time round…but we’re still making progress!
↓ Transcript
Panel 1 [In the foreground, Lawrence looks down at Jackson off screen with a concerned expression. Behind him rushes up Barzillai with the medicine chest and Adelaide clasping her hands. Ezra, on the other side, is running over with a saw and knife]
BARZILLAI:
What happened?
EZRA:
He fell from aloft!
Panel 2 [Lawrence quickly stands and reaches for Barzillai’s medicine chest, one hand wrapped around it as the captain, surprised, resists a bit]
LAWRENCE:
Give it here!
BARZILLAI:
Fool greenhand, what do you think you’re doing?
Panel 3 [Shot over Lawrence’s shoulder as he opens up the medical chest, rummaging through it. Barzillai’s voice coming off camera]
LAWRENCE:
I’m a doctor.
BARZILLAI:
What?
Panel 4 [Lawrence speaks to an alarmed Jackson, leaning in with a tourniquet in hand as Jackson holds on to his broken leg]
LAWRENCE:
I can’t save the leg, Jackson. But I’ll work as quickly as possible, understand?
BARZILLAI:
What happened?
EZRA:
He fell from aloft!
Panel 2 [Lawrence quickly stands and reaches for Barzillai’s medicine chest, one hand wrapped around it as the captain, surprised, resists a bit]
LAWRENCE:
Give it here!
BARZILLAI:
Fool greenhand, what do you think you’re doing?
Panel 3 [Shot over Lawrence’s shoulder as he opens up the medical chest, rummaging through it. Barzillai’s voice coming off camera]
LAWRENCE:
I’m a doctor.
BARZILLAI:
What?
Panel 4 [Lawrence speaks to an alarmed Jackson, leaning in with a tourniquet in hand as Jackson holds on to his broken leg]
LAWRENCE:
I can’t save the leg, Jackson. But I’ll work as quickly as possible, understand?
It’s nice to have a trade to fall back on. I’d have thought ships would have had two surgeons at the least, working 24/7 in shifts 😉
Falling was a common hazard standing on ice covered ropes on a swaying mast, so was getting crushed between shifting objects if their lashings broke or if you just zigged when you should have zagged, not to mention loose rope ends snapping like whips or unnoticed coils to inadvertantly step in or reach through and all the other ways to lose an eye, hand, foot, leg, head, or any other appendage. and without antibiotics or even sterile bandages, compound fractures were pretty much a guarantee of a quick amputation, which could be performed in minutes, I believe the record was something like 30 seconds ?
I just noticed… he already has the tourniquet out, flesh knife and bone saw should be in the bottom drawer 😉
I’ve just found this today & read all of it in a single sitting. I’m currently in the middle of a writing project that includes a lot of 19th-century sailing, so this is an especially delightful read, since it’s on-topic; the comic itself is engaging, & all of your essays have been fascinating & wonderfully informative. Thank you so much for putting this out there, & I’m very excited for the next update!
Thank you so much for reading! I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Best of luck with your own project!
Yes, good luck and don’t forget to share when it’s finished 🙂
I hit upon the link to this comic on my tumblr dashboards some days past and have been working my way through in my limited freetime and enjoying every page. This really is the People On Boats With Problems media year for me and the bonus historical essays attached to this particular one have me *thriving*, kudos!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy the essays. They’re…my Passion hahah.
I must admit I hadn’t noticed the essays link until now, at least my off-the-cuff ramblings are supported somewhat in them 🙂