Royal naval physician Sir John Jamison (1776-1844), Scurvy and Sweden's medico-surgical institute

As a direct consequence of Sweden's devastating losses in its war with Russia in 1808-9, an institute for the training of military surgeons was established in Stockholm in December 1810. This establishment soon became known as the Karolinska Institute and is the forerunner of today's eponymous institution. This paper records the nature of the British assistance that led indirectly to the founding of this institute. This aid took the form of a report into the high morbidity and mortality rates due to scurvy which were sustained by the Swedish Fleet in Carlscrona in the summer of 1808. This report, written by John Jamison, Fleet Physician to the Baltic Command of Sir James Saumarez, was used by the Stockholm medical authorities as part of their campaign for improved training of military medical personnel. Whilst Jamison's report did not in itself lead to the establishment of the Stockholm medico-surgical institute, it was undoubtedly important, and serves both as an example of Anglo-Swedish relations during the Napoleonic era and a reminder of the ravages of scurvy.