Staff Immunised Against Diphtheria

A typical Horse Drawn Ambulance of the time It must have been a sad day for the driver of the faithful horse drawn ambulance who had given undoubted service for the last 22 years, to see the new ambulance pull into the grounds of the hospital without a horse pulling it. The time had come to let progress take its course, allowing the most modern invention the opportunity to replace the old. The new motor ambulance with their red blankets to indicate to the public that they were caring a patient with an infectious disease were called to service. The horse drawn van would continue to work for many years as it followed the new ambulance to collect the infected patient's. Any accidents or none infectious cases that occurred in the town were dealt with by the police. The first year put great demand on the new Ambulance and the second one was soon welcomed when it was purchased in 1927.

The two Ambulances soon found themselves busy, as 92 patients came into the hospital in a matter of no time suffering with diphtheria. By October, 104 cases had been diagnosed in the borough of which 92 were treated at Badsley, sadly 17 patients died. Diphtheria was an awful illness. This serious bacterial infection gave its victims a sore throat. A foul-smelling greyish film covering the tonsils, would turn into ulcers if the condition was not properly treated. In the olden days before an anti-toxin was discovered diphtheria used to be a fatal disease. The tough membrane would extend downwards to the larynx until the throat was completely blocked and the patients suffocated to death. These days gladly this is a rare disease and now with treatment runs a much milder course. Attention was soon focused on Wellgate school after the schools medical officer, examined 17 children with signs of sore throat, or nasal or ear discharge. After examining the children, swabs were taken and sent to the Public Health Laboratory for further examination. Three cases were found and the children were taken to Badsley for treatment. Throughout the year Wellgate School had 19 pupils suffering with diphtheria. Towards the end of October of all ill pupils who were examined and 25 swabs were taken, 4 cases were diagnosed with diphtheria. This sparked off the need for all children in the borough known to be suffering from chronic nose or ear discharge being examined at the school clinics. Arrangements were made with Sheffield University pathological department to carry out further tests. When all 47 cases were found harbouring diphtheria like germs, all the suspected carriers were isolated in the hospital until the result of the tests could be proved. Out of the 47 cases 3 were found to be carrying a harmful diphtheria organism and required hospital care until they were better. The other 44 were found to be carrying, none harmful diphtheria germs and where consequently discharged from quarantine. In a few months all of these young patients were re-tested, showing the same result. During the height of the epidemic several of the nursing staff and health visitors were immunised against diphtheria. As the epidemic continued to kill more people, the Corporation made an application to the health department for extra help. They responded by supplying medical practitioners for free, and diphtheria antitoxin (the treatment of the time). This would be free to all patients who required it, but it is unclear if the medical practitioner's time was given freely, as patients still paid when seeking medical help. With the support of the local practitioners the worries over diphtheria lessened as fewer cases were diagnosed. That was until December, when a small outbreak occurred in one class of a school. The children in quick succession became ill and tests were taken to find the possible carriers, it was found that the teacher, who was showing no symptoms and was absolutely well, was the diphtheria carrier. Several people were taken into the hospital and no further cases occurred at the hospital.

As the year 1927 ended the following year started with another smallpox outbreak. The town would have a total of 119 cases from which 9 deaths occurred. The patients were admitted into Badsley for a short quarantine spell. The average number of patients in the hospital on a daily basis was 25. The Motor ambulance would go into the community and bring in the ill patients with the horse drawn van following to bring infected articles in to be steam cleaned. It was the van drivers job to also spray the home of the ill patient. If any public library books found in the home, these where returned to the public health department then after spraying them they were placed in a special chamber.