Dr. Thorne Thorne's report to the local government board on the sanitary condition of Stapleford, in the rural sanitary district of Shardlow, and on the prevalence of infectious diseases in the village.

  • Thorne, Richard Thorne.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Thorne Thorne's report to the local government board on the sanitary condition of Stapleford, in the rural sanitary district of Shardlow, and on the prevalence of infectious diseases in the village. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    1/4
    Dr. Thorne Thorne’s Report to the Local Government Board on the Sanitary Condition of Stapleford, in the Rural Sanitary District of Shardlow, and on the Prevalence of Infectious Diseases in the Village. Edward C. Seaton, M.D., • • •• - — ~ Medical Department, April 9, 187 I.—General Description. Stapleford is a large village in tlie rural sanitary district of Shardlow, and it is situated six miles south-west of Nottingham. The greater part of the village lies on undu- lating land which slopes towards the river Erewash. The soil is sandstone and conglomerate; some dwellings, however, are situated on the alluvium of the river. In 1871 the inhabitants numbered 1,967, but during the last few years the population has rapidly increased, it being now estimated at about 2,600, and it is stated to be still increasing. The inhabitants are mostly occupied in lace and silk works, and in neighbouring railway carriage works, iron works, and collieries. II.—Prevalence of Infectious Diseases. 1. Enteric fever was prevalent in Stapleford at the date of my inspection, there being then, as far as could.be ascertained, about 15 cases, and the disease was ap- parently on the increase. This immediate prevalence of enteric fever commenced towards the end of December 1876, but prior to that date there had been occasional cases for at least six months, and information derived from the medical men practising in the village is to the effect that Stapleford is rarely, if ever, free from the disease for any length of time, although it has hitherto usually been of a comparatively mild type. Inspection of the death returns shows that during the five years 1872-76, 13 deaths ■were registered as due to this cause, one or more fatal cases having occurred in each of the five years. Under these circumstances it was not found possible to trace the -exact origin of the present outbreak. * 2. Scarlet fever.—Although there were no cases of scarlet fever in Stapleford on the occasion of my visit, yet the disease has been very prevalent there during the past two years. In 1875 there were 20, and in 1876 there wrere 12 deaths from this cause in the village. III.—General Sanitary Circumstances of the Village. 1. Water Supply.—Throughout the greater portion of Stapleford the water supply is either obviously foul, or is subject to constant risk of pollution. Its distribution is also in many instances very defective. The supply is derived from wells, the depth of which is stated to vary, according to their site, from about 10 feet to 50 feet. In dangerous and often in close proximity to many of these nulls are placed, besides heaps of general refuse, large midden-privies, the wet contents of which soak into the surrounding soil, and as a rule these sources of pollution are situated on a higher level than the wells: even where these nuisances are not in such proximity to the wells, these latter are often sunk in a soil on the surface of which the inhabitants habitually throw slop water and liquid refuse. Under these circumstances the contents of some of the wells have become so palpably filthy that their use has been abandoned; but the supplies which have taken the place of those disused (and which at times have to be stolen), are often but little or no better except so far as external appearance is concerned, and there can be but little doubt that these apparently better supplies have in some instances been the means by which enteric fever has been spread. Thus tllfe disease has been notably prevalent amongst persons drinking the contents of a well in Mellows Yard: and in several instances I found that persons living in houses either altogether without any provision for water, or having only wells too foul for use, procured a supply from a brooklet known as “ Sick Ditch.” Thus, in East Street, this water wras procured at a spot just below wrhicli the streamlet received the sewage from a neighbouring group of houses. A few yards below the dipping place the pollution of the stream wras increased by the sewage from about 30 houses, in two of which enteric fever was prevalent, and the contents of the stream thus fouled were again drunk by several families in another street. Enteric fever also prevailed in this street. 41115. 100.—4/77. Wt. 14754.