One Infectious Disease After Another

A family Living in Rotherham in the 1930's The very poor living conditions in the 1930's and the high unemployment rate probably led to continued outbreaks of infectious diseases. Poverty was rife and Rotherham was officially declared a "depressed area" in August 1930. In 1933 there were a million homes in England and Wales that were considered unfit for human habitation. These overcrowded, damp houses were often referred to as slums and these conditions were an ideal breeding ground for infectious diseases. In1933 a massive slum clearances began in some of the worst areas around Rotherham, and Westgate, one of the poorest areas was cleared but the poorest people were still unable to afford council rents and were living in terrible conditions in run down overcrowded houses.

The medical staff in 1933 at Badsley consisted of 1 Matron, 1 Sister, 13 Nurses, A Medical Health Officer, a deputy medical health officer, and a surgeon consultant when required. During the busiest time every pair of skilled hands were needed to stop every kind of infectious disease spreading, even within the hospital. Scarlet fever continued to be the greatest concern of the hospital staff, year after year nothing seemed to stop the spread of this disease. The borough would see 268 cases throughout the year of which 211 were treated at Badsley. Two of these were members of staff who stayed in the hospital until they were well enough to work again. Around the same time 4 cases of diphtheria were admitted, one young woman who was admitted was in a highly toxic state and despite all the medical help she only lived another hour. A few months later eight further cases of diphtheria were also to be admitted into the hospital, three of which required a tracheotomy. All the permanent staff from nurse to ward maids were tested for diphtheria, one gave a positive reaction and received treatment. Another two members of staff were immunised against this awful disease. Scarlet fever seemed at times untreatable and since the isolation hospital opened, it had admitted more scarlet fever patients than any other disease. Throughout the year of 1934 the scarlet fever put so much pressure on the hospital, it pulled into question did the isolation hospital need an extension to cope. Three times because of the overflow of patients with scarlet fever Kimberworth Sanatorium was opened to support Badsley. The main problem with Badsley was there were no single wards for the use of convalescent cases. Using Kimberworth Sanatorium to convalesce these patients gave a certain amount of minor administrative difficulties, but these small problems were thought to be minor compared to the benefits it would bring.

On the 11th November 1934 two brothers aged 6 and 12 were admitted into Badsley suffering from typhoid fever. Other members of their family were tested and although most of them were negative their youngest brother, aged 4, proved positive and was removed to the hospital on the 20th November. The disease history was investigated by the medical officer. The illness began when the father of the boys procured mussels from a wholesaler in Sheffield. He and his four sons aged 21,12,6 and 4 had all eaten them. Their father was ill soon after continually vomiting which left him with stomach pains for the next few days. The following day his son aged 21 had no effect at all but the boy of 12 became severely ill. The boy of 6 also became ill but not as severely as his elder brother. The youngest member of the family, the 4 year old, vomited soon after eating the mussels but still was not showing any symptoms when he was taken into hospital. Following the “mussels” outbreak the next notification of typhoid fever was a nurse in the children’s block at Workhouse Hospital she was also sent to Badsley.

By 1936 another typhoid fever outbreak occurred in the Town and in no time a total of 490 people had contracted a mild case of the disease, however 16 people died.

One of the many drugs on the market Some patients did not have to stay in an isolation hospital. Those who did not were encouraged to prevent the disease being passed on to other people. Some people could not afford to stop working therefore being in denial might have cost them their lives. Working people had to prepare for a doctor's visit by joining a sick club, miners had 2d a week stopped from their wages to pay for doctors if they were ill. Unemployment was still high in the area and even if a man did work and were entitled to medical treatment, his wife and children were not. Being visited by a doctor cost around 7/6d (Around 37p) in 1936, on top of this was the cost of any drugs that were prescribed