[Report 1909] / Medical Officer of Health, Cockermouth U.D.C.

  • Cockermouth (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1909] / Medical Officer of Health, Cockermouth U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/28 (page 12)
    Lorton. The fohowing' day her illness beg'an with pains and shivering-s. She continued her duties on the Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday nig'ht the 21st. September a daug'hter of her master came home from Lorton school with a sore throat and the young' woman slept that night with this g'irl. Next day feeling* worse she walked home a distance of four miles to her parents’ residence at Berry’s Court, St. Helens’ Street. Their medical practitioner was instantly summoned and he, on his arrival, pronounced the case Diphtheria. This house contains two bedrooms and a kitchen and there were thirteen inmates viz., father, mother, patient, and nine others whose ages ranged from seven months to fourteen years. Here was a case of a highly infectious disease having to be treated in an over taxed house as regards air space and ventilation and once again proves the want of a properly constructed and equipped isolation hospital for the reception of such cases. In December 1909 a fifth notification of diphtheria was received. This time the patient was a little girl aged 3 4/12 years residing at 64, Kirkgate. The origin of this case could not be ascertained, and no insanitary defects were found on visiting this house. Pnerperai Je\er Qu 21st. December a notification was received stating that a married woman was suffering from Puerperal tever. On enquiries it was found that the case had ended fatally. The case was medically attended at the confinement but the victim was very debilitated owing to the want of sufficient food. Nothing insanitary could be detected. Scarlet Fever For the second year in succession this disease has been unknown in your district. ^leasies An epidemic of this disease manifested itself among the scholars attending the Fairfield Infants School. This school was closed from 11th. November to the 21st. November, 1909. Later it spread to the children attending St. Joseph’s Voluntary School (R.C.) and All Saints’ Voluntary School (Mixed and Infants Department) which were closed from 20th. December to 24th.