Typhus fatalities

REPORT

OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE FOR PREVENTING

CONTAGIOUS FEVER.

THE number of new Fever Cases, in the beginning of the week before last, was alarmingly great.  This week they have considerably decreased, in consquence, it is to be hoped, of the sources of infection having been stopped, by the removal of such numbers to the Houses of Recovery.

But the disease itself, as was predicted, has assumed a worse aspect.  Since last Report, the fatal cases have increased.  Some of these are most distressing cases.  Martin, an industrious weaver in Shuttle Lane, his wife, and a daughter, have fallen sacrifices to it, and four more of their children are in the Houses of Recovery; their remaining two infants who had not caught the infection, have been taken into the room of a worthy woman in the neighbourhood, at the request of the Committee, upon their furnishing new bedding and clothing.

Strong fears were formerly expressed, that if the Fever got footing in the higher classes, it would be more severely felt than among the poorer, in proportion to the numbers affected.  This unhappily seems to be confirmed by its consequences, to such of the Medical Gentlemen as have been taken ill.

Dr HECTOR fell its first victim, from having humanely attended a poor woman in child labour, suffering under the most abject poverty, and in the last stage of virulent fever.  An active assistant next had a severe attack, but happily his youth got the better of the disease.  A Gentleman in charge of one of the Dispensaries was next seized, and for several weeks his life was almost despaired of; but being in the prime of life, his constitution at length triumphed - he, however, recovers his strength slowly.  During his illness, his Patients in the Dispensary and House of Recovery were attended by his friend, Doctor YEATS, in whose praise the poor sufferers were all loud.  He had been on voyage to India as a surgeon's mate, and had just got an appointment of surgeon to an Indiaman, and was to have left this on Saturday last; but on the day preceding he was confined with the Fever, and this morning breathed his last!  Thus has this very fine young man been cut off, in the bloom of youth, by volunteering his services to his native City, upon the present unhappy occasion.

The Committee have the pleasure to report, that immediately upon the application of the Lord Lieutenant, Government granted the Barracks for the use of convalescents.  This will be a great relief, but must occasion heavy additional expence, to meet which large sums will still be required.  The Honourable the Club, with their usual munificence, have set a fine example, by presenting the Institution with ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS - a most reasonable gift, which will enable the Committee to extend their care to numbers of poor families, who otherwise, after being cured of the Fever, must have been left nearly destitute.

Presents of old Clothing and Bedding continue to be most thankfully received, at the House of Recovery, Gallow gate.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 6th January 1819.