Introduction: coping with a black legend -- The surgeon's tale: the development of surgery -- The world of the East India Company surgeon -- The medical service of the Dutch East India Company -- The geographic origin of the Company's surgeons -- The career of the Company surgeons -- 'Great expectations'! -- Conclusion: the surgeon's legacy
Summary
A powerful account of the working lives of surgeons in the service of the Dutch East India Company, offering graphic insights into their training and practice on board the Company's ships, against the backdrop of the general healthcare standards of the period
