Hi all, A little on the Scarlet Fever epidemic of 1875-1876 .... Scarlet Fever was probably first introduced to Sydney by immigrant ships in the late 1830's. Records indicate that both the 'John Barry' and the 'Maitland' which arrived in Sydney in 1837 and 1838 respectively, were quarantined on arrival after outbreaks of the disease on the voyage. The epidemic of Scarlet Fever which broke out in Sydney during late September 1875 and extended into the first half of 1876 was part of a much wider epidemic which affected NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania and caused more than 5,000 deaths. The epidemic differed in many respects from the catastrophic out-break of measles of eight years previous. In the first place, it extended over a much longer time period. In the second, its effects were spread over a wider geographical area. In the third place, it produced a wave of public reaction and a widespread concern for public health and sanitation. In 1875-76 the cause and means of transmission of Scarlet Fever were unknown. It was widely believed that the germs of specific poisons which caused the disease were always present in the densely settled parts of a city and that they just required the right set of environmental circumstances to burst forth in epidemic proportions. The disease began then as now with a rapid rise in temperature, soreness and redness of the throat, and eventually a generalised macular rash of intense red colour on the chest and limbs. After a few days the temperature fell and the skin began to peel. In most cases the patient was ill for several days with a sore throat, high temperature, fever and loss of appetite. Medical practitioners in Sydney during the epidemic were of the opinion that the disease was spread by "minute poisonous atoms which came off the body of the sick through the skin, bowels and kidneys and from the membranes of the lungs, throat and nostrils. In an effort to stop the spread of the disease doctors were urged to anoint the sufferer's body with either suet, lard or olive oil so as to affix the poison charged particles to the body. The beneficial nature of this treatment was recommended on the gounds that the fats not only mechanically fixed poisons to the body but also combined with oxygen to form peroxide of hydrogen, "a substance remarkable for its power of destroying zymotic poisons". Otherwise, doctors recommended a regime of magnesium sulphate, quinine sulphate, ferrous sulphate, diluted sulphuric acid and belladonna. The epsom salts was to clear out the bowels, the quinine served as a nerve tonic, the iron was a blood stimulant, the diluted sulphuric acid as an antiseptic and the belladonna was to quieten the reflex actions of the nerves. For the throat a gargle of potash and hydrochloric acid was also recommended, supplemented in severe cases by a poultice of chamomile flowers, and regular massaging of the chest and throat with soap liniment, turpentine and belladonna. Like the earlier measles outbreak the Scarlet Fever epidemic was almost exclusively concentrated among Sydney's infant and young child population, with almost 80% of total deaths being aged 1-7 years. Two thirds were aged under five, with the majority 1-4 years. The Scarlet Fever epidemic of 1875-6 was a severe childhood epidemic which lingered on in Sydney for a considerable period of time. With the benefit of hindsight, the epidemic appears as a crucial stage in the development of public health in NSW. It produced the first official investigation into the origins and transmission of infectious disease, helped focus public attention on disease and the living conditions of the city's poor, and resulted in the first tentative steps being taken towards an official policy regarding the control and management of epidemics of infectious disease. extracts from : Times of Crisis, Epidemics in Sydney, 1788-1900, P.H. Curson (some of which is pretty gruesome) Diane

Thanks Dianne, Although it was not my query your reply made fascinating reading! Marie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Diane" <dianep@optushome.com.au> To: <AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 2:16 PM Subject: [H,H,HV] Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina) > > Hi all, > > A little on the Scarlet Fever epidemic of 1875-1876 .... > > Scarlet Fever was probably first introduced to Sydney by immigrant > ships in the late 1830's. Records indicate that both the 'John Barry' > and the 'Maitland' which arrived in Sydney in 1837 and 1838 respectively, > were quarantined on arrival after outbreaks of the disease on the voyage. > > The epidemic of Scarlet Fever which broke out in Sydney during late > September 1875 and extended into the first half of 1876 was part of a > much wider epidemic which affected NSW, Victoria, South Australia > and Tasmania and caused more than 5,000 deaths. The epidemic > differed in many respects from the catastrophic out-break of measles > of eight years previous. In the first place, it extended over a much longer > time period. In the second, its effects were spread over a wider > geographical area. In the third place, it produced a wave of public reaction > and a widespread concern for public health and sanitation. > > In 1875-76 the cause and means of transmission of Scarlet Fever were > unknown. It was widely believed that the germs of specific poisons which > caused the disease were always present in the densely settled parts of a > city and that they just required the right set of environmental > circumstances > to burst forth in epidemic proportions. The disease began then as now > with a rapid rise in temperature, soreness and redness of the throat, and > eventually a generalised macular rash of intense red colour on the chest > and limbs. After a few days the temperature fell and the skin began to > peel. In most cases the patient was ill for several days with a sore throat, > high temperature, fever and loss of appetite. Medical practitioners in > Sydney during the epidemic were of the opinion that the disease was > spread by "minute poisonous atoms which came off the body of the sick > through the skin, bowels and kidneys and from the membranes of the > lungs, throat and nostrils. In an effort to stop the spread of the disease > doctors were urged to anoint the sufferer's body with either suet, lard > or olive oil so as to affix the poison charged particles to the body. > The beneficial nature of this treatment was recommended on the gounds > that the fats not only mechanically fixed poisons to the body but also > combined with oxygen to form peroxide of hydrogen, "a substance > remarkable for its power of destroying zymotic poisons". Otherwise, > doctors recommended a regime of magnesium sulphate, quinine sulphate, > ferrous sulphate, diluted sulphuric acid and belladonna. The epsom salts > was to clear out the bowels, the quinine served as a nerve tonic, the iron > was a blood stimulant, the diluted sulphuric acid as an antiseptic and the > belladonna was to quieten the reflex actions of the nerves. For the throat > a gargle of potash and hydrochloric acid was also recommended, > supplemented in severe cases by a poultice of chamomile flowers, and > regular massaging of the chest and throat with soap liniment, turpentine > and belladonna. > > Like the earlier measles outbreak the Scarlet Fever epidemic was > almost exclusively concentrated among Sydney's infant and young > child population, with almost 80% of total deaths being aged 1-7 years. > Two thirds were aged under five, with the majority 1-4 years. > > The Scarlet Fever epidemic of 1875-6 was a severe childhood epidemic > which lingered on in Sydney for a considerable period of time. With the > benefit of hindsight, the epidemic appears as a crucial stage in the > development of public health in NSW. It produced the first official > investigation into the origins and transmission of infectious disease, > helped focus public attention on disease and the living conditions of > the city's poor, and resulted in the first tentative steps being taken > towards an official policy regarding the control and management of > epidemics of infectious disease. > > > extracts from : > Times of Crisis, Epidemics in Sydney, 1788-1900, P.H. Curson > (some of which is pretty gruesome) > > > > Diane > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >