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Scarlet Fever (1874)

Sunday 13th December, 2009

Scarlet Fever is a highly infectious disease to which children are particularly susceptible. Before the discovery of antibiotics, outbreaks of the illness were common and during epidemics many children died.

One such epidemic occurred in 1874. The “Manchester Guardian”, May 8th 1874, during a review of the city's health, stated that “Scarlet Fever has increased considerably”.

The outbreak was not confined to Manchester but was in evidence throughout the country.

In October 1874 the authorities in Wigan wanted to inhibit the spread of Scarlet Fever by isolating the inhabitants of Crooke, where there was a particularly severe outbreak. The conditions in the village were said to have been very insanitary at that time so it was suggested that properties in which the disease was prevalent should be burned.

The inhabitants fought back by saying that the best way to inhibit infectious diseases was by improving the standards of the buildings, not by destroying them.

It is easy to talk about such events dispassionately, but a close look at a particular case highlights the personal tragedy felt by those who suffered loss at this time.

Lamberhead Green is about 2½ miles from Crooke. At the Methodist School there, John Hoyle, the headteacher, was obliged to keep a logbook chronicling daily events. Here are some extracts telling of his professional and private grief during the 1874 Scarlet Fever outbreak:

“October 23rd

Visited several children who have not been at school for a week or two. Found several of them ill. I find I have about a dozen children who ought to be at the Exam, but cannot on account of sickness, some of them are dangerously ill.”

“Nov. 6th

Two more deaths from Scarlet Fever.”

“Nov. 13th

My boy has begun with Scarlet Fever today.”

“Nov. 20th

A week of sorrow. My dear child who was at school last Thursday died yesterday of Scarlet Fever after a week’s illness. No school today. We inter him tomorrow.”

The events obviously greatly upset Mr. Hoyle. They may have prompted his decision to leave teaching a few months later.

This is his final entry in the school log:

“May 14th (1875)

My connection with this school ceased today. I have had the satisfaction of seeing the school flourish under my mastership. I have done pretty well… This, however, has been at the expense of my health; it is impossible in a locality like this to get good reports and creditable results without killing oneself and that I have been foolish enough to do. I am now leaving the profession in the hope of having a little comfort and ease of mind before I quit this ‘Tale of Tears’.”

It must be noted that, during this farewell statement, Mr. Hoyle's state of mind could be deduced by the state of his handwriting – it degenerated into illegibility.

There were, of course, outbreaks of other deadly, infectious diseases at this time. During the seven months between September 1874 and April 1875, John Hoyle wrote of children in his school who died of Typhoid, Scarlet Fever and Small Pox.

Crooke Explains