Ship's Surgeon

Surgeon. The ship's surgeon tends to injuries, keeps illnesses from spreading throughout the ship, and oversees sanitation. A capable surgeon benefits from a high Intelligence score, as well as proficiency with herbalism kits and the Medicine skill.

The pirate ships usually did not have surgeons aboard. Those that had them probably pressed surgeons into service. From surgeons, crew expected, to help them with diseases and wounds. Without proper medicines, every wound could become a source of infection, so amputations were often necessary in order save patient's life.

If the ship did not have a surgeon, in cases of amputation, the carpenter would usually take his place. He was the first choice because he had necessary tools and knowledge in “cutting”. In rare cases, the cook would take the place of a surgeon. However, cooks usually were not butchers; they were just crewmembers whose assignment was food preparing.