Dr. James L. Tyson sailed from Baltimore for California in January 1849, crossing the Isthmus and sailing on to San Francisco. Diary of a physician in California (1850) recounts his 1849 tour of the Northern Mines in search of a likely place for his medical practice and his hospital at Cold Spring, where his patients included a number of Oregonians. Tyson closes his hospital at the end of the summer, sailing from San Francisco as a ship's physician, crossing the Isthmus and landing in the United States in December 1849. His diary pays special attention to miners' health and working conditions.
Excerpt from Diary of a Physician in California: Being the Results of Actual Experience, Including Notes of the Journey by Land and Water, and Observations on the Climate, Soil, Resources of the Country, Etc Tranquil Sea. - Fiery Sun and Cloudless Skies. - A Sailing-vessel not adapted to the Pacific. - Change our Course. Myriads of Water-Fowls and Fishes. - The Porpoise, Grampus, Dolphin, and Devil-Fish. - Coast of Costa Rica. - Milder Atmosphere. - Delightful Breezes. - Amusing Incidents. - Off Realejio. - Fourth of March. - Shark Supper. - Increasing Heat. - Brilliant Nights. - A Death. -Remarkable Coincidences. - Coast of Guatemala. - Repose on the Pacific. - Gulf of Tehuantepec. - Coast of Oaxaca. - A Volcano. - Harbor, City, and Inhabitants of Acapulco. - Attempt to Sleep Ashore. - A Mexican Salute. - Sumptuous Repast. - Almost a Battle; Weigh Anchor. - An Omen. - Death of "the Old Man." - Calms and Head-Winds. - Views of the Coast. - Volcano of Colima. - Cape Corrientes. -Magnificent Sunset. - "Bout Ship." - Gulf of California. - Chilling Atmosphere. - Its Effects. - First View of Lower California. - Cape Palmas. - Beautiful Scene. - Cape St. Lucas. - Halo of Glory. - A Steamer. - Head-Winds and Currents. - Cape Falso. - Rugged Coast. - Disagreeable Weather. - Discomforts on Board. - Short of Provisions. - Incompetency of the Captain; Our Sensations on a First View of Alta California. - Dismal Appearance of the Coast. - Fogs. - An Incident and a Luxury. - Coast between Saint Louia Obispo and San Miguel. - Proposition for an Enterprise. - High Sea. - A Beautiful Sight. - A Gale. - Liquid Fire. - Ocean in Flames. - Amusing Occurrences. - Point Pinos. - Pleasant Weather. - Terrific Hail Storm. - A Paradise. - Off the Bay of San Francisco. - The Chrysopyle. - Magnificent Scene. - Bird Island. - Anchor in the Bay of San Francisco; A Town of Wood and Muslin. - Deserted Ships. - California Prices. - A Scuffle to get on Shore. - Famished Voyagers. - High-Pressure System. - Blasphemy, Gold, and Gambling. - Camp on Shore. - Desertion of Crew. - Death of Captain. - Climate of San Francisco contrasted with Benicia and Sancolito; Start for the Sacramento. - Packing in a Launch. - Eating Ones' Self. - Golden Rock. - Adventures in Pursuit of Eggs. - Dangerous Situation. - Brothers and Sisters. - Straits of Pablo. - Bay of Sonoma. - Straits of Karquines. - Sleeping on Board. - Breakfast on Shore. - Reminiscences of Schooner Sovereign. - A Pleasant Walk. Benicia. - A Naval Station. - Suisan Bay. - A Famous City. - Its Advantages to Miners. - Enter the Sacramento. - Appearance of the Shores. - Sloughs. - Thule Marshes. - Nurseries for Disease. - Mosquitoes. - Tramp through a California Ticket. - Barber's Ranch. - A Philosopher. - Indian Rancheria. - Wild Geese and Ducks. - Sierra Nevada. - Suttersville. - Embareadero About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Dr. James L. Tyson sailed from Baltimore for California in January 1849, crossing the Isthmus and sailing on to San Francisco. Diary of a physician in California (1850) recounts his 1849 tour of the Northern Mines in search of a likely place for his medical practice and his hospital at Cold Spring, where his patients included a number of Oregonians. Tyson closes his hospital at the end of the summer, sailing from San Francisco as a ship's physician, crossing the Isthmus and landing in the United States in December 1849. His diary pays special attention to miners' health and working conditions
