Report on the outbreak of typhus fever at Chesham, Bucks / [W.H. Power].

  • Power, William Henry, Sir, 1842-1916.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the outbreak of typhus fever at Chesham, Bucks / [W.H. Power]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    JReport on VWIMfc W 12LLCOMJ£ LIBRARY the Outbreak of Typhus Fever at Chesham, Bucks. APPLICATION having been made to the Local Government Board for inspec¬ tion of the town of Chesham, in the Amersham Union, on account of the prevalence of fever, measles, and diarrhoea, I was instructed to visit and inspect the town, and to report on the epidemic. The Census of 1871 gives 6,746 as the population of the Chesham sub-district; of this number upwards of 5,000 reside in Chesham town; which, for the purpose of this Report, may be understood to include, with Chesham Old and New Towns, the hamlet of Waterside. In 1870 the Chesham sub-district had 3 deaths from fever; 1 in the third, and 2 in the fourth quarter. To the end of August in the present year, there had been but 1 fever death; but, between the end of August and the 14th of October, there were 13 deaths from fever. In 1870 there were not any deaths recorded under the heading measles. In 1871, to the 30th of September, there were 2 deaths referred to this cause, both in the third quarter. In 1870 there were 16 deaths from diarrhoea, 12 of them in the third quarter. In 1871, to September 30th, there have been 13 from the same malady ; 11 of them in the third quarter, and all but 3 very young children. I was told that Chesham is considered a healthy place. Phthisis is, however, reported prevalent, and diarrhoea is usually common about harvest time. Low fever, probably enteric, occurs from time to time, and last year was rather prevalent at Waterside. Typhus.--—The present epidemic of fever has been true typhus. It was imported into Chesham Old Town in May last, and spread in the following manner:—Two shoemakers, tramps, of whose previous movements the only information to be got is, that they came from Wales, arrived at Chesham, and put up at a low beer-shop, which, opening in front into Church Street, and at the back into Hearn’s Yard, is much frequented by the inhabitants of those neighbourhoods. Within forty-eight hours of their arrival, one of them was taken ill somewhat suddenly; on application to the Relieving Officer, he was admitted into the Union at Amersham, where his case was pronounced fever.” He recovered, and went away from the town, and no further information can be got of him, There was no spread of the disease, from him, in the Workhouse. In about ten days his companion, who had slept in the same bed with him, also fell ill, but remained at the beer-house above-mentioned. In a few days more another man, who had been constantly at the beer-shop, and in communication with both men from their arrival, was taken ill with fever. A woman, living in Hearn’s Yard, nursed him ; just as he began to get well, after a fortnight’s illness, she, too, was seized with fever. From this time fresh cases occurred more frequently, so that by the end of September there had been, in Hearn’s Yard, and the adjoining part of Church Street, 38 cases of fever, with 5 deaths. About this time the two medical men who had attended the sick also fell ill with the fever, and medical assistance had to be obtained from London. Hitherto the epidemic had been confined to the neighbourhood above-mentioned, where every man’s house seemed open to every one else, sick or well; but now cases began to be dotted about the town. The following is an instance of the manner in which the fever was spread :—At Star Yard, distant half a mile, lived a woman, her husband, and four children; a grown-up daughter, residing in Hearn’s Yard, took fever, and was laid up there; the mother went daily to nurse her, returning home at night to sleep in the same room and bed w’ith the family. Soon after the daughter began to get well her mother was seized with fever, and within forty-eight hours, at the longest, of her attack, her husband and two of the children were dow n with it. As to the nature of this fever there can be no doubt. It was typhus. Of the [502] B