The surgeon on an immigrant ship had to deal with all ailments - colds, flu, diarrhoea, constipation, and lice. Sometimes there would be outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, smallpox, or whooping cough and he attended births and deaths. in addition to looking after the passengers' physical health, he was also employed to oversee the stores and daily food rations, instigate daily routines to keep the ship clean and orderly, organise education for the children, mediate when passengers had disagreements, and much more. He was especially responsible for the large numbers of government-assisted emigrants that were always on board.
Medicines and ointments were dispensed as well as what were known as "medical comforts" - stout, sherry, port, sago, milk, and preserved potatoes. "Comforts" were used to treat all sorts of ailments and were also given as preventative measures.
the ship was provied with the medicines a doctor required, but he had to supply his own medical equipment - to bring instruments, including lancets, tooth-instruments, midwifery forceps, and an amputating saw. The first few days at sea were usually very trying for the surgeon. Passengers had not yet found their sea-legs, and many were violently ill. The surgeon often found himself suffering from sea-sickness too, but he was still expected to look after everyone else. Src Te Papa