Edammers were not only sailors or officers with the Dutch (war) fleet, they also served as surgeons. Ships doctor, we would call them nowadays, but as on dry land, surgeons at sea were not really doctors. “Doctores” were trained at university. It was said that they knew everything but could do nothing. Surgeons did not know much, but they did everything. Anyway, complicated theories were not necessary on board, practical skills such as blood letting and caring for the sick were. But lack of knowledge about infections and infectious diseases meant that the surgeon was often unable to help and that his patients died in spite of (or because of?) his care.

Herewith a list of compensations for the loss of bodyparts…