Dr. R. Bruce Low's report to the local government board on an outbreak of enteric fever at Helmsley, in the Helmsley rural district, North Riding of Yorkshire.

  • Low, Robert Bruce, 1846-1922.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. R. Bruce Low's report to the local government board on an outbreak of enteric fever at Helmsley, in the Helmsley rural district, North Riding of Yorkshire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    11/22 (page 9)
    in the production of the fever. It is right to state here that as soon as the attention of Lord Beversham was called to the danger above described, he gave orders to have the covering-in of the spring completed at once. The flood which occurred in the Boro’ Beck on July 26th, swept down Beckdale (a narrow valley with steep wooded sides), where the stream over- flowed its banks. Prom Mr. B. Sturdy, who has charge of the waterworks, I ascertained that the reservoir was for a short time submerged on this occasion, hut that no water gained access to it through the manhole, the cover of which fits tightly. Some storm water at first backed up the over- flow pipe, which, however, soon got choked up by leaves and sand, so as to plug the pipe and prevent any more flood water backing up into the reservoir. On opening the manhole cover next day to inspect the interior of the reservoir, Mr. Sturdy says that a little fine; sand was the only trace that remained of the admission of flood water to the reservoir. The fact that there were two convalescents from enteric fever residing in Helmsley during the last three weeks of July adds to the possibility that specific dejections might have been deposited by them in the narrow valley of Beckdale, or on its wooded sides, above the jroint where the reservoir is situated; in which case the flood might have washed the dejections down to the reservoir. Although the date of the flood (July 26tli) and the recognition of the first group of cases (on August 15tli to 19tli) is quite consistent wdtli the theory above indicated, yet the distribution of the cases in the towm hardly lends much support to it; and for the rest there is little other evidence forthcoming in its favour. Of the 22 houses invaded during August, seven were situated in the High Street, four in Castlegate, four in the Market Place, three in Bondgate, and one eacli in four other parts of the town. The exceptional incidence of the fever on the High Street and Castlegate* was held by some persons as supportmg a theory that the pollution by sewage of the Boro’ Beck, which flows through these streets, had more to do with the outbreak than had the water supply. But this excess of invaded house- holds in the High Street and Castlegate is capable of other explanation. When the remaining theory comes to be discussed, it will be seen that a more definite and complete explanation of the origin and spread of the fever outbreak is forthcoming, altogether independent of circumstances connected with the public water service or with the Boro’ Beck. Before leaving the subject of water supply, it may be well to mention that at Helmsley there has recently been opened and repaired a shallow well, situated on the roadside in Bondgate, that was long ago closed. This well is only 20 feet deep. The steining of the sides is open. The surrounding soil is porous; a kitchen garden abuts upon the well, and there is an open, wet, privy-midden within 20 yards of the pump. The water is now being used by persons resident hereabouts, so it is said, for washing their butter, some of which is sold to the public. The water, in my opinion, is liable to pollution, and the surroundings of the well are such as to condemn it; it should be at once closed. (3.) Specific Contamination of a particular 31ilk Service.—-There are only nine registered milk sellers in Helmsley. No regulations are in force in the district, under the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order, prescribing the precautions to be taken to protect milk from infection. Manv cottagers in Helmsley keep a cow. At present some 50 persons have the right to pasture their cows close to the town. The milk supply is therefore much sub- divided; often persons possessing a cow supply their next door neighbours, but do not publicly sell milk. Although nine milk businesses are registered at the present time, five are on a small scale and hardly need mention here. The remaining four milk vendors do not at present keep more than three or four cows apiece, and the business done being somewhat similar in amount in each instance affords a basis of comparison. The number of households served by each of these milk vendors does not vary very much, and ranges from 35 to 40. On inquiry it was found that * There were 11 houses invaded in August along the course of the Boro’ Beck iu the Pligh Street, Church Street, and Castlegate, comprising between them some 88 inhabited houses; the rest of the town, comprising about 180 inhabited houses, had only 11 invaded houses, e 89620. R