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A medical casebook
CULLED FROM THE ARCHIVES OF
OUR LOCAL 1740:
Patent medicines
were a popular cure-all in past times although the outrageous claims made by their makers have been banned by successive legislation on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry. But those wishing to find a cure for an ailment or seeking better health did not just rely on a bottle of mixture or a packet of pills. The spas of pure water that could be found dotted around the country were particularly popular and extensively patronised by sufferers from a multitude of complaints, hence the phrase "taking the waters".
1813: On Wednesday night, July 16th, an inquest was held at Pointon, near Bourne, by George White, gent., coroner, on the body of Elizabeth Gunn who had died under circumstances somewhat extraordinary. The deceased, who was the daughter of very creditable parents at the decoy in the fen, was in the service of a respectable family at Billingborough and had been charged with stealing a gown belonging to a lady of the contiguous parish of Horbling, whilst it was hung out on a hedge to dry. The offence seemed to be so clearly brought home to her that her mother was sent for and the girl dismissed from her service after a severe and suitable reproof. Stung with shame and apprehension, the wretched creature accompanied her mother to Pointon on Monday night the 7th but seemed in a state of stupefaction and in the course of the night died in her bed. It was apprehended that she had taken poison but on her body being opened by two surgeons for the satisfaction of the coroner, no intimation whatsoever was afforded of her having done so and the jury therefore, under all the circumstances of the case, returned a verdict of "died by fright or terror". 1843: An accident befell Mr [Robert] Hall, of Dowsby Fen, on Sunday last. He was riding a young horse which became restive in North Street, Bourne, and threw him on the pavement by which his head was dreadfully lacerated. Surgical attendance was immediately on hand, the accident happening near the residence of Mr [Francis] Bellingham. After having his wounds dressed, he was conveyed home in great pain. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th September 1843. 1848: On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at Manthorpe, near Bourne, by Mr R A White, coroner, on the body of Elizabeth Taylor, a young woman who had been residing there for some years with her uncle and aunt. The investigation was protracted to an unusual length, partly in consequence of the culpable concealment of material facts by both Mr and Mrs Taylor, who, during their niece's illness, instead of applying for advice to some medical practitioner regularly educated and authorised, confided her life to the care of an ignorant cow doctor, and with a view to keeping this fact from the knowledge of the coroner and jury, did not hesitate to make false statements. But, upon pursuing the investigation, it was discovered that they were aware last week of their niece's being very unwell and at her request called in one John Knipe, of Northorpe, who gave her some useless pills and a decoction of which mullein [a herbal remedy made from plants], which being very effectual in farriery, he ventured to prescribe for her, though he did not know the extent or even the nature of the disease under which she was labouring: but, fortunately for him, it appeared upon dissection of the body that death was occasioned by extensive internal inflammation and extravasation [leakage] of blood, and had not been accelerated by the doses she had taken, so that he was not legally implicated in the cause of death, though there is no doubt that, if he had not interfered by undertaking her cure, and skilful medical aid had been obtained, the disease might have been arrested and her life would have been saved. Knipe was severely reprimanded by the coroner, and it is hoped this case may be a warning to the public not to trust their lives to the treatment of uneducated quacks. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 5th May 1848. 1855: An inquest at the Nag's Head Inn before Mr William Edwards, coroner, on Monday 3rd September, on the body of Mr John Morris, aged 46, a wheelwright, of West Street, Bourne, was told that he was in his usual health on Saturday evening and at the Windmill Inn in North Street, partook of some glasses of spirits after which, at about half past 10, he went to the Nag's Head where he drank more liquors, and at 11 o'clock, he fell out of his chair. Mr Octavius Munton, surgeon, who was sent for, promptly attended and attempted to bleed deceased but life was extinct. Verdict: apoplexy which it appeared from the medical testimony, the unfortunate man was liable to from any exciting cause. 1864: Henry Greenwood, aged 29, a tailor, died suddenly on Monday 12th December 1864, after being taken ill. An inquest at the Angel Hotel the following Wednesday was told that he had been employed by Mr W D Todd, tailor, of the Market Place, Bourne, during the past 15 months. He went to work at his master's shop early on Monday morning and remained at his employment until 8.15 pm when he left, apparently in his usual health except that in the afternoon, he had complained of a slight pain in his chest. On reaching his lodgings, he was very ill and by 9.15 pm the same evening, he was a corpse. Ann King, with whom the deceased lodged, said he had complained of pain in his chest on Sunday and Monday and when he came home on Monday night, he was very ill and she went for Mr Nicholls who attended immediately. Mr Todd said that previous to the deceased coming into his employ, he worked at Poole's in Savile Row, London, and he hoped to discover some of deceased's friends. G J Nicholls, Esq, surgeon, said that about 9 pm on Monday evening, he was called out to attend deceased who appeared to be in an apoplectic fit. He slightly recovered but almost immediately became violently convulsed. He believed death was attributable to spasms of the heart. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. 1869: Henry Hewerdine, aged 54, a farm labourer, was found dead in bed at his home in Eastgate, Bourne, at 5 am on Sunday 29th August 1869. An inquest at the Boat Inn, Eastgate [now demolished], was told the following Monday that he was employed tending cows in the South Fen and had been working as usual on the Saturday before his death, returning home between 6 pm and 7 pm. His wife, Mary, told the coroner, William Edwards Esq: "I had purchased a pound of beef steak and we had supper together. He made himself some tea and I had beer. He had a hearty supper and was quite comfortable. He made no complaint whatsoever of being unwell and went to bed between nine and ten o'clock. I went soon afterwards and heard no more of him till about 11 or 12 o'clock when my son, Nathaniel, came home he asked if it was morning. After that I did not hear him move all night. On Sunday morning, between four and five o'clock. I felt his face and it was quite cold. He just lay there as if he were asleep. I got out of bed and called Nathaniel telling him that his father was dead and he went directly for the doctor." Mrs Hewerdine said that a year before, her husband broke and arm and a leg when a tub of water fell on him from the back of a cart but she did not know whether he sustained bodily injuries. "He was ill for nearly 12 months and was not like the same man since", she said. "He lost his flesh and was crippled in his arm ever afterwards. He was also very much troubled with the cramp in his legs and body and had to get out of bed two and three times a night, sometimes more. He was quite sober on Saturday night and as far as I know, he had been all day." A neighbour, Ann Elizabeth Alderman, said that she was at the house when Mr Hewerdine returned home. "His wife had been out gleaning", she said, "and I took charge of the house whenever she went out. Mr Hewerdine came home at about 7 o'clock and went to bed for half an hour and on returning, they had their suppers together very comfortably indeed. He ate a very good meal considering he was not a strong man and had not been for a length of time. On Thursday, he complained to me and said he felt that his inside was thoroughly going." Medical evidence was given by Dr James Watson Birdwood who said that he carried out a post mortem on the body in the presence of Dr Lambden. "The stomach and intestines were very much congested and inflamed", he said. "The stomach was full or overloaded with undigested food. The intestines were empty. The bladder, which was also empty, was much contracted and contained a stone weighing about two ounces. I was not quite satisfied with the appearance of the stomach but detected no traces of poison and attributed the suddenness of the death to the very diseased state of the heart." The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. 1872: An inquest was held by Mr White, coroner, on Monday last, on the death of Priscilla, wife of Henry Boor, of Witham-on-the-Hill, who died suddenly during the previous Friday evening, at the age of 33. Deceased had been at the funeral of her husband's brother on Friday at Baston, and had a hearty dinner and tea there. She walked home with her husband and complained very much at intervals of severe pain in the left side. She went to bed about 9 pm and her husband, waking in the night, found she was dead. She had suffered from pain in the heart for some months but as it usually went off after a short time, she would not have advice. Mr Burn, surgeon of Bourne, made a post mortem examination and found deceased had died of a disease called embolism, a very rare disorder, and sudden in its effects. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, 1st November 1872. 1875: WONDERFUL CURE: A young girl, daughter of Mr Nichols, foreman platelayer on the railway in Bourne, has recently undergone operations in the Orthopaedic Hospital, London, on account of a deformed foot, it being twisted at the ankle, rendering walking difficult and painful. The girl, fourteen years old, has suffered from this for eight years, as the effects of weakness left by fever. She has just returned from the hospital, having been there eleven weeks, and is entirely recovered. - news item from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 1st May 1875. 1877: Martha, the wife of John Pullen of Bourne North Fen, died very suddenly early on Wednesday morning last. It appears that deceased, who was 32 years of age, was as well as usual on Tuesday and did the family washing. She and her husband retired to bed between nine and ten o'clock. Before either of them had gone to sleep, the husband had occasion to leave her, and on returning in about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour afterwards, found his wife lying across the bed in a state of unconsciousness from which she never rallied, and although medical aid was promptly procured, and every possible assistance rendered, she died within about three hours of the attack. An inquest at the Greyhound Inn, Bourne North Fen, before J G Calthrop Esq., coroner, was told that deceased died very suddenly. Dr Ashworth stated, as the result of the post-mortem examination, that the organs were healthy, excepting the brain, at the base of which there was a clot of blood weighing over an ounce, which was the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. - news reports from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th May and 1st June 1877. 1878: On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at the Six Bells Inn, Bourne, before J G Calthrop Esq., coroner, upon the body of William Marriott, baker, of [North Street] Bourne, aged 36, who had been found dead in bed on the previous morning. It appears that though the deceased had been for some time unwell, he had not had a medical attendant. He went to bed on Sunday night no worse than before and was found dead in bed between 6 and 7 o'clock in the morning. Cicera Draycott, wife of Mr Draycott, of the Windmill Inn, stated that in consequence of information she had received, she went to the deceased's house about 7 o'clock on Monday morning and found him in bed dead, but warm, evidently having died only a short time previously. The bed clothes did not appear to have been disturbed and she therefore thought that he had died without a struggle. Mr Thomas Harker, assistant to Dr Ashworth, deposed that he made a post mortem examination on the body. The immediate cause of death was haemorrhage to a large extent and fatty degeneration of the heart and congestion of the lungs. There was also enlargement of the liver. The appearances altogether were sufficient to account for and no doubt did cause the death of the deceased. The jury, after a few minutes consultation, returned a verdict of death from heart disease. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 31st May 1878. 1880: A singular death occurred at Langtoft last week. On Tuesday night, Mrs Betsy Rouse took some liniment internally, but for what purpose she would not say. Soon afterwards, dangerous symptoms manifested themselves, and salt and water were given to her. This caused vomiting, but she grew worse and, notwithstanding she had medicine from the doctor's on Thursday, she died on Saturday morning. Police Constable Everitt informed the coroner of the circumstances but no inquest was held on the body. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th May 1880. 1880: Lady Willoughby de Eresby is unwell with a sharp attack of rheumatic gout which has confined her to bed. Sir William Jenner and Dr Cumberbatch are in daily attendance. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 27th August 1880. 1888: Mr J G Calthrop, coroner, held an inquest at the Nelson Inn, Morton, near Bourne, on Friday touching the death of Edward Hubbard, aged 80. From the evidence of Caroline Hubbard, who lived with deceased, it appeared that he usually had good health but suffered from a cold last week. On Wednesday, after a small breakfast, he went to Spring Wood at Edenham and assisted Mr Wadsley and his men until three o'clock. He was a short distance from the others and upon looking round, one of the men saw him on the ground, face downwards. He was assisted up but died in their arms in about two minutes. He did not speak or move but groaned. Verdict: died from syncope [faint]. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 3rd February 1888. 1890: FALL FROM A TREE TOP: On Saturday afternoon, Edward Homer, aged 11 years, son of Mrs Knipe, of the Red Lion Inn, met with a terrible accident. While playing on the recreation ground he was challenged by his companions to climb one of the trees. He had ascended a considerable height when the bough upon which he was resting broke and he was precipitated headlong into an adjoining field. He was picked up in an insensible condition. Dr [James] Watson Burdwood was immediately summoned when it was found that he had suffered from concussion of the brain. His shoulder was broken and he had sustained other injuries. He was conveyed to his home by the doctor. The boy still lies in a critical condition. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th September 1890.
1891: The members of the Rippingale club last week presented Dr John Galletly with £5 in consideration of the extra labour that had devolved upon him through the influenza epidemic. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 17th July 1891.
1893: A serious epidemic of influenza, similar in character to that of two years ago, has broken out in the Bourne district of Lincolnshire. - news report from the Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 15th November 1893.
1904: Consumption, or tuberculosis as it is known today, was still prevalent in the early years of the 20th century and a particularly distressing case was reported by Mr Joseph J Davies, headmaster of the Abbey Road Elementary School for Boys, in his daily log on 21st July 1904:
It is with deep sorrow that I have to record today the sudden death during school hours of Arthur Young, aged 13, a seventh standard scholar. He was an inmate on the Union [workhouse] and of a delicate constitution. A fortnight ago he left the Union with his mother who took him on a tramp about the country for ten days. They returned to the Union famished and exhausted. The strain had clearly been too much for the poor lad. But though very delicate, he was able to attend school and appeared about as usual. This morning, as the boys were filing in from play, I noticed he looked pale and asked him how he felt. "I feel very poorly, sir", he said. I asked him if he would like anything from the house but he said "No, thank you." He thought he would like to walk quietly home and I agreed, considering it the best thing, as he did not seem inclined to rest. About five minutes afterwards, I heard a peculiar coughing sound and going instantly out to the playground, found the poor boy vomiting blood. Blood was also pouring from his nose. I at once went to his help, asking Mr Butler to come, who came immediately. We carried him carefully into the porch. But he was unconscious and had probably expired almost immediately after the attack. I had sent urgently for the three town doctors, and for the nurse, the messenger fortunately met Dr John Galletly [senior], who kindly came at once, but pronounced life extinct. Death was due to the bursting of a blood vessel in the lungs. The poor lad's father died from a similar case. Nurse Bellamy kindly came and assisted with the body being taken home. Mr [Alfred] Yates, the Union Master, informed me that a doctor had been attending the boy this week but he had not seemed unwell today, having been hearty at breakfast. I am deeply touched with the sympathetic spirit shown by teachers and boys alike.
In a later entry, Mr Davies said that the boys and staff had on Friday subscribed for a beautiful wreath which was placed on the boy's grave at Deeping on Saturday.
1906: The painfully sudden death occurred of Miss Marie Nichols, second daughter of Mr William Nichols, grocer, of North-street, Bourne. She was seized with violent pain on Sunday 22nd April. Medical aid was summoned and Dr Gilpin declared the young lady to be in a critical condition and that nothing short of an immediate operation would save her life. He proceeded in his motor at once to Peterborough and returned about five o'clock accompanied by Dr Kirkwood. The latter pronounced the case too serious to operate at home and she was removed to Peterborough Infirmary in Mr Thomas Mays' motor and an operation performed on her arrival there. The first reports were that the operation was successful but on Wednesday, a telegram was dispatched for the parents who found there was no hope of recovery. The young lady succumbed a few minutes after six in the evening; the cause of the trouble was the bursting of a substance in the stomach which burst the stomach. The deepest sympathy is expressed on all hands for the relatives as there was not the least expectation of such an early termination to her life. She had scarcely reached 21 years of age and up to Saturday week, performed her usual duties in the shop. 1907:
At the time
of
my first visit to Bourne Isolation Hospital [then situated in Manor Lane],
one of the wards was tenanted by a woman and two children, one of whom was
suffering from scarlatina. As it had been impossible to isolate
effectively the child and mother in their own home, the mother had been
induced to bring her children into the hospital where she was entirely
alone and had to attend to the infected and the non-infected child
herself. It had been arranged that food should be provided for them by the
Inspector of Nuisances, and also water for drinking since, as I have
elsewhere pointed out, there is no supply of wholesome water on the
hospital premises. At my visit, the mother complained that she had not
been supplied with water but had been obliged to use for drinking purposes
the foul water from a shallow dip well adjoining the hospital. I pointed
out to the Inspector of Nuisances that very grave responsibility would be
incurred should illness of one of these persons be referred to the use of
this water. – from the official report of visiting medical inspectors
into sanitary and hygiene conditions in Bourne, October 1907. 1909: Vitamin drinks and beneficial beverages enjoyed a widespread popularity in those days before the National Health Service was introduced in 1948 and when the makers were allowed to publicise them in the newspapers extolling their virtues without being asked to justify their often outrageous claims. A popular method of advertising was to find someone to endorse the product and then pay for a few column inches of space in the local newspaper on that page where the district news was printed.
One purveyor of a popular chocolate drink during the early part of the last century found two such endorsements in Bourne, no doubt recruited by the newspaper's local correspondent for a small commission, that appeared in the Stamford Mercury on consecutive weeks at the end of the various reports on the week's happenings in the town.
A BOURNE LADY'S EXPERIENCE
A LETTER FROM GLADSTONE STREET 1913: Several cases of ptomaine poisoning were reported in Bourne on Saturday 23rd August, and in the early stages of the outbreak, looked somewhat serious. The first case was that of Mr Charles Moisey, a bricklayer, who in the course of his work on Saturday afternoon, was seized with violent sickness and had to be conveyed home in a cab. Upon being medically attended, the complaint was pronounced to be ptomaine poisoning. Later in the day, several other cases of a more or less milder form were notified. Amongst other persons affected were Mr and Mrs M Shipley and one of their children, and a child of Mr J Bannister's in Woodview. The cases had occurred, it is believed, through each of the persons affected having eaten some collared head which had been purchased locally. All the patients however, have considerably improved and Mr Moisey, whose case was by far the most serious, was able to get up on Tuesday for a short time and is well on the way to recovery. 1914: A married couple, Thomas Redmile and his wife, died after suffering from influenza which developed into pneumonia. The couple had lived together in a cottage on Mr Andrews' farm in Bourne South Fen for the past 20 years. After contracting the illness a week before, Mrs Redmile became rapidly worse and died in the early hours of Friday 6th March. Her funeral was to have taken place the following Monday but her husband, who had been in a moribund condition for two or three days, also succumbed on that day. The funeral was therefore delayed until Tuesday 10th March when they were buried together in the town cemetery. 1915: Dr John Galletly, Medical Officer of Health, reported to Bourne Rural District Council, the case of a consumptive patient who lived and slept in a room with a lodger who suffered from asthma, whilst the woman of the house suffered from bad legs and also occupied the same room. The consumptive patient was in far too an advanced stage to be removed to a sanatorium. He asked what could be done in the matter but apparently the council were powerless. The council instructed the clerk to write to the county council with further reference to the sanatorium accommodation. 1920: Dr John Gilpin, Medical Officer of Health, reported to Bourne Urban District Council on Tuesday 11th August 1920: "Never since I have been your medical officer have I had to write such a serious report on the health of your district. Never in the 30 years I have practised here have I known such an extensive epidemic of measles and of whooping cough as is raging at present. Certainly more than half the unprotected children in the area are or have been affected during the past month. Up to the present time there have been four deaths from measles and one from whooping cough, all very young children, and I am afraid the list is not yet ended. These complaints are not now notifiable and although the annual death rate from them is greater than any notifiable infectious disease, no provision for isolating them exists at present. Every parent should regard it as their duty, during an epidemic, to watch their family most carefully for any sign of departure from health and to separate the patient as far as possible from the rest, and in particular to keep the baby, if there is one, well away from the suspected one." The council decided to recommend to the Ministry of Health that measles and whooping cough be scheduled as notifiable diseases. 1921: Dr John Gilpin, Medical Officer of Health, reported to Bourne Urban District Council on Tuesday 12th July 1921 that there had lately occurred several cases of infantile diarrhoea due to contaminated milk. He emphasised the necessity of milk being covered with some material such as muslin and added that it was also desirable to scald the milk as soon as received. 1921: FATAL CASE OF SLEEPING SICKNESS: - A case of sleeping sickness terminated fatally on Monday evening when Mrs Chambers, wife of Mr J H Chambers of South Fen, Bourne, succumbed to an attack which lasted 35 days. Deceased, who was a strong and healthy woman, was taken suddenly ill and at the outset of her illness, her condition was extremely critical. Her condition, however, improved, and strong hopes were entertained that she would ultimately recover. Her partial regaining of consciousness was only of short duration and during the period of her illness there have been several times when she has partially recovered but not sufficiently long to enable her to take nourishment. Much sympathy is felt for the widower and his family, the youngest of whom is about 11 years of age. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th August 1921. 1923: VICTIMS OF SEPTIC PNEUMONIA: - Two deaths have occurred during the week from septic pneumonia, both victims being railway employees. They are Mr Samuel Smith, platelayer, who died on Saturday in the Butterfield Hospital, and Mr W H Richards, of Gladstone-street, engine driver. Each left a widow and two children. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 26th January 1923. 1927: The Medical Officer of Health, Dr John Gilpin, reported to Bourne Urban District Council on Tuesday 13th December that an epidemic of measles had been responsible for the deaths of four young children but the outbreak was now abating. 1960: Heart problems are prevalent today but did not have such a high profile in past years when they were overshadowed by the threat of poliomyelitis, diphtheria, dysentery and food poisoning. But the Medical Officer of Health for Bourne, Dr H Ellis Smith, sounded an alarm note in his annual report presented in August 1960 when he said that cardio-vascular diseases were becoming a principal cause of death and were often lumped together as "heart trouble". The previous year (1959), this category of illness had killed 25 people in Bourne (population 5,000). He went on: "This disease is becoming increasingly common and is the main cause of sudden death in the middle years. In the present state of knowledge, one cannot be over specific as to preventive measures, but it is wise to say to all in their forties and upwards that moderation in all things is the best policy. Moderation in diet by not eating in excess of the body's requirements, some physical exercise every day and not the week's quota at the weekend, and the cultivation of the art of relaxing for a little while in every day, are worth pursuing." 1969: There were 881 residents living in Bourne over the age of 65, according to a report from Dr H Ellis Smith, the Medical Officer of Health, to Bourne Urban District Council on Tuesday 9th December. He said that the number comprised 483 males and 398 females and added: "The fact is of great importance as a yardstick of need to all who plan the social welfare and housing services". Of the 62 deaths in Bourne during the year, 32 were from cardio-vascular diseases, with coronary diseases accounting for eight and strokes seven. The figures were contained in the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health, Dr H Ellis-Smith, who said that prevention of degenerative diseases associated with age could be very much aided by balancing work with relaxation. People in sedentary occupations, he said, should take regular exercise. He went on: "A period of quietude is a good antidote to the pressures of this busy world. It is also desirable not to linger too long over the fleshpots, nor look too long at the wine when it is red!" 1970: A flu epidemic swept through Bourne and the outbreak was so serious that all visitors to Bourne Hospital were banned except for those patients who were seriously ill. The outbreak began towards the end of December 1969 and continued into the New Year, lasting for a period of four weeks. The Stamford Mercury reported on Friday 2nd January: "Local doctors have been working flat out to cope with the epidemic although some have been taken ill themselves. They are just succeeding in keeping it under control. The pressure on the medical profession is intense and there is no slackening in the numbers of those affected but the medical authorities have given assurances that no one has been neglected." The outbreak subsided towards the end of January. 1970: Although it is 19 years since poliomyelitis struck Bourne, the Medical Officer of Health, Dr H Ellis-Smith, warns against complacency when presenting his annual report to Bourne Urban District Council in July 1970. "Immunity only too easily breeds apathy", he said, "and I urge every mother to ensure that her children have the necessary protection given to them during their first year, and again at school age. There is a new generation of mothers who have never watched at the bedside of a stricken child, or seen a formerly healthy, active one, crippled for life as a result of this cruel disease. The vaccine is given by mouth and what could be an easier and more worthwhile insurance premium?" Of the 81 babies born in the urban area during 1968, sixty-two were protected from polio. This was 76.5% compared with the county average of 66.7%. "But what of the 19 whose mothers have neglected their duty?", asked the doctor. See also 1862 - A sad discovery at the cemetery This mortal coil
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