Langford Epidemic, 1801-1802
Report by G D Yeats MD [ref: W1/740-741]
Report of the Fever prevailing in the Parish of Langford from August 1801 to January 1802
In consequence of a contagious fever which had raged for some months in the parish of Langford I was requested by the Overseers of that parish in the beginning of December to give my assistance in counteracting its effects & in checking the further progress of the disorder – I found several people ill of the fever in a deplorably wretched condition – Among many others comparatively better situated I saw in some places three or four in dirty rags confined within a small room laying on some bedding on the floor with ghastly countenances, brown tongues, furred teeth, burning skin and delirium.
One patient, Mary Sarl, I saw in the workhouse with the above alarming symptoms & a commencing gangrene at the lower part of the back, lying on some bedding on the floor in the corner of the room which was constantly crowded with 8 or 10 people mostly children whose noise prevented the little rest she might otherwise have had in the intervals of delirium.
Pateman a widow with 5 children I also saw. Three of her children were in the same bed with her, two by her side and one at her feet, the remaining two were on bedding on the floor in a corner of the same room, small, confined and dark, the casement of the window being constructed in such a manner as not to open.
It is not at all surprising that under such circumstances as these a contagion of the most virulent nature should have been disseminated. In examining into origin of this fever I discovered that in its attack on the first two persons who had it, it was not alarming in its nature but became so in consequence of the neglect of cleanliness in patients from the filth, want of ventilation and bad construction of the dwellings they inhabit.
By an examination which was in itself not a little tedious I traced the fever to the following source: -
Sometime in the month of August last whose weather was extremely hot while Joseph Larman was ploughing in Langford field which is low and swampy, he was seized with cold shivering, headache, dimness of sight, giddiness, sickness and vomiting, he nevertheless still continued to plough that day and returned to his work in the same field for several days, suffering during that time some febrile attacks. The disease however increasing upon him he was obliged to give up his work went home to bed in a miserable cottage situated in the dirtiest lane in Langford with a collection of every kind of filth before the door. About four days after Larman’s first attack Williamkilby was seized with a febrile [?] whilst ditching in the same field & at the same time whilst Larman was at plough. Kilby after a few days went home also very ill to bed in a cottage adjoining – the fever in these two men was at first of the remittent if not of the intermittent type. By confinement withing the unventilated & damp walls of their dirty cottages the different execretions of the body, such as perspiration, increased in virulence by the febrile state by accumulation, stagnation, 7 consequent decomposition, became the origin of that contagion which has since disemminated through the village. Had these men possessed clean, wholesome and well ventilated cottages I think I may safely assert we should not have heard of this fever at Langford.
During the illness of Kilby & Larman Hannah Norman living in a cottage very near the latter came to visit them. Soon after this one of her children Thomas Norman, a youth of twelve years of age was attacked with the fever which went thro’ the whole of that numerous family crowded into one dark small room where they eat & sleep together & cook their victuals. During the continuance of the fever in this family Moses Naylor who lives in a more distant part of the village came to see his friend Norman and remained by his hot side for some time – he in consequence was attacked with the fever which was thus communicated to he dwelt and from them to different other persons. In this way it was that it became the prevailing epidemic increasing in virulence with its progress and spreading from house to house.
Under these circumstances I was desired to attend. Finding that it was impossible effectually to check the progress of the contagion where so much filth existed, where rooms were so much crowded and where there was so much communication between the different cottagers. I desired a barn might be immediately procured and properly furnished for the reception of the sick.
With much perseverance and exertion one was at last fitted up by the 19th December when three persons were admitted into it, 6 others were afterwards admitted. The free ventilation of the place, the clean linen and proper attendance quickly produced decided and & marked effects upon the patients. By the beginning of January the progress of the fever was checked and the spreading of the contagion arrested. Mr Layman, the medical gentleman who attends the parish assisted me greatly in the business. The means that were used in overcoming the virulence of this contagion are detailed in the two papers of instruction to the overseers of the parish which accompany this account.
The village of Langford is placed in a situation particularly favourable to the production and propagation of infection. The country about it is flat and marshy, there is consequently a considerable quantity of stagnant water holding in solutiona variety of substances undergoing the putrefactive process. In addition to this the cottages of the poor are small, dark, damp and unventilated and crowded with inhabitants little attentive to cleanliness either in their persons or habitations. I am apprehensive that fevers will, under the present situation of Langford, continue at various times to be troublesome there when the weather proves favourable to the germination of infection.
This observation is confirmed by the fact that a putrid fever was very rife in the village several years ago. Fifty died in one year, a mortality scarcely credible in so small a village. It happened in the memory of the present Church Warden Mr Wheeler, who was then overseer. The best method of alleviating the recurrence of these fevers or at least rendering them less malignant when they do occur would be to pull down entirely the worst of the cottages and rebuildother more airy and better constructed. It is no objection to say that cottages as bad as these are in other parts of the where no such fever has prevailed because they are not situated in the unwholesome manner I have already described these to be, and it is needless for me to mention the difficulty with which infection is eradicated even under circumstances of cleanliness and ventilation.
I was happy to hear a workhouse is shortly to be built at Langford, one is very much wanted and I hope the gentlemen who are to superintend the building of it will take care to have the windows made with opening sashes; it would also be advisable to hollow drain the ground before the foundation of the building is laid. These precautions are proper to be observed in every place where a house is likely to be crowded, but as they are particularly necessary at Langford I have taken the liberty to suggest them.
List of patients at Langford:
John Pearson senior, recovered; John Pearson junior, recovered; Edy Kilby, recovered; Ann West, recovered; Sarah Squires, recovered; Widow Pateman, recovered; Mary Sarl, died,; John Edwards, recovered; Thomas Edwards, recovered; Elizabeth Edwards, recovered; William Edwards, recovered; Mary Butler, recovered; John Battison, recovered; Patty Beaumont, still ill; Thomas Pearson, recovered slightly attacked; Skinner, died.
Besides the above several others were prescribed for but as the disease was checked immediately, their names are not mentioned.