Doctor in the house

As we follow our protagonist through the story of his 'trials and tribulations', we may not consider the cumulative effects of these actions on their physical being. Here's a modern doctor's view:




https://csforester.wordpress.com/about/publications/reflections-online-2021-2030/health-and-medical-care/

"However, CSF tends to paint a rather unfavourable picture for the
ship-doctors involved, with eccentrics, some with little backbone or decision-making ability,
very inclined to alcohol consumption, up to the drunkard. The latter aspects are in my opinion
owed more to his medical biography than it corresponded to the reality of the time."

As a conclusion, that gives hope that naval sailors of the time had mostly humane treatment by mostly sober medical officers. Still, I see CSF's perspective - how better to excite the reader's emotions than to have a somewhat-sanctified professional (i.e. doctor) turn out to be a flawed character dealing callously or incompetently with our heroes and other men? As readers, we subconsciously want positive outcomes for our preferred protagonists, but we also read to experience a dramatic story based on realities we hope we never experience.