no small thing

Redbeard peered through the spyglass and spotted a ship: The Midnight Marauder. A terrible vessel filled with horrible men. Its crew an assemblage of scoundrels, thieves, ne'er-do-wells, mercenaries, thugs, scalawags, miscreants, blackguards, villains, rascals, cheats, bad eggs, creeps, wretches, heels, liars, reprobates, ruffians, devils, and varmints.

But… they did have a doctor on board who was not also their cook. And that is no small thing as it is important that there be no conflict of interest when amputations are being considered and food is running low.