Dr. S. Monckton Copeman's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever in the borough of Eccles, Lancashire, due to the consumption of ice-cream.

  • Copeman, S. Monckton (Sydney Monckton), 1862-
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. S. Monckton Copeman's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever in the borough of Eccles, Lancashire, due to the consumption of ice-cream. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by children in the hope of getting more for their money than would otherwise be the case. Asked whether she knew the man’s name, she at once gave it, adding that a neighbour had also seen her sister buy the ice-cream. On enquiry this statement proved correct, as the neighbour, who lives on the opposite side of the street, said that she had not only seen the child buy the ice-cream, but was further able to fix the exact date (October 23rd), owing to the fact that her mother had happened to meet with a serious accident on that particular Sunday. In answer to subsequent questions her father admitted that he was aware that the boy, who had been attacked by the fever, was very fond of ice-cream, and had bought and consumed, on occasion, as many as seven or eight halfpennyworths. As the result of my enquiries it appeared that the only members of the family who certainly had consumed ice-cream within the last month were the two only members of the family attacked by enteric fever. Household B.—The occupants of this household were a woman, her adopted son set. 30, her son set. 15, and her sister. The son, set. 15, is only at home on Saturdays and Sundays, when he occasionally buys ice-cream from a cart in the street. The last occasion on which he purchased ice-cream was on October 23rd, and he began to be ill on November 9th. With the exception of this boy, no one in the house had eaten any ice-cream. Household C.—In this instance the family consisted of father, mother, and four children, of whom the eldest was attacked by enteric fever. He first felt ill on November 8th, but kept at his work till three days later. Both father and mother said they were very strict about the children’s diet, and would never allow ice-cream in the house. The patient, although drowsy, was quite sensible, and stated that he had been in the habit of buying ice-cream from an Italian on Sundays, in the neighbourhood of Lane End, Market Place; the last occasion on which he had purchased any being October 23rd. Household D.—The members of this household were husband and wife, a son aet. 21, and seven girls varying in age from 18-3 years. The son has been accustomed to buy ice-cream from an Italian who came round usually just before dinner-time on Sundays. The last occasion on which he ate any was on October 30th, when he bought a pennyworth. The mother and eldest daughter divided a similar quantity between them, all the rest of the girls being at Sunday School at the time. The father had none. The son, who fell ill on November 8th, is the only member of the family who was attacked by enteric fever. Household E.—This family consisted of husband, wife, and five children (three boys and two girls). The two girls were attacked by enteric fever about November 12th. Ice-cream was purchased from an Italian vendor on Sunday, October 30th, when four half- penny ices were consumed, one each by the mother, the two girls, and the boy iet. five, respectively. The two elder sons were away at work on this day, and the father did not have any ice-cream.