Typhus Fever and Cornwall

A major typhus epidemic occurred during the Great Irish Famine between 1846 and 1849. The Irish typhus spread to England, where it was sometimes called "Irish Fever" and was noted for its virulence. It killed people of all social classes, as lice were endemic and inescapable, but it hit particularly hard in the lower or "unwashed" social strata.

Elizabeth Fradd nee Oliver was born in about 1769 in Little Petherick  \ St Petroc Minor, Cornwall, England and christened on the 12^th July 1772.  She married William Fradd on 20^th April 1795 in Little Petherick \ St Petroc Minor, Cornwall, and they raised 9 children.

Elizabeth died aged 86 on the 25^th November 1845 in Padstow, Cornwall, England of Typhus Fever after only 8 days of being infected; by her side was her sister Mary Oliver.

Fig. 1 Elizabeth Fradd Death Certificate

In 1840 W.J. Gilbert Esq Assistant Poor Law Commissioner reported on the sanitary state of the counties of Devon and Cornwall where Mr Hugoe, medical officer of the Padstow district St Columb Major union stated:

“During the period within which I am required to report there has not occurred a single case of contagious disease within this district the absence of which I attribute principally to the cold wet weather we have had.

Some years since typhus was always prevalent during the summer months when the heat was greatest induced in my opinion by the filth allowed to accumulate in the streets and bye places of the towns and villages. (see Table reference above)

The streets are constantly covered with refuse animal and vegetable matter and I doubt not should the coming summer prove hot we shall have a return of that form of fever above alluded to.

The population of the parish of Padstow is 1822.  In the year 1833 cholera prevailed in that year 70 deaths took place. In the preceding year typhus fever produced the same rate of mortality and in 1831, 43 deaths from typhus and Scarlatina (Scarlet Fever).

The year after the cholera prevailed viz 1834, only 31 deaths are recorded.

There were 31 deaths in 1835 and 35 in 1836.  During these years immediately after the prevalence of cholera, much greater attention was paid to cleaning the streets and the removal of various nuisances but there still exist many causes likely to produce disease should we have a return of very warm weather favouring the production of miasma (a noxious form of stale air).

The local advantages for draining and cleaning the town are great from the excellent supply of fresh water which might easily be made to pass through every street and there is a gradual descent towards the sea. All obnoxious matters might by that means be washed away instead of being allowed to accumulate as at present rendering the streets alike disgusting to the senses of smell and vision”.

An excerpt from a Letter to the editor of the Manchester Guardian...

It is truly a heart-rending thing to witness the devastation which this fever is daily committing in families of all ranks. I am told by a medical friend, who enjoys particular opportunities of being acquainted with the subject, that the fever which is now prevailing is particularly virulent in its character; very insidious in its attack; remarkably deceitful in its progress; and unusually fatal in its event.