Rotherham's Cholera Outbreak

On 15th March 1848 inspectors from the Poor Law Commissioners visited the workhouse and recommend some accommodation for the sick. The committee called a special meeting the following day all agreeing that an infirmary would be essential for the health of the paupers. So a more permanent room within the workhouse was set aside to be adapted into an infirmary if it was needed. The paupers within the workhouse took on the responsibility of nursing the sick under the medical supervision of the occasional visiting Medical Officer of Health. By the 6th July the same year the first patients were admitted to the infirmary as there was an outbreak of diarrhoea and many paupers became very ill and needed treatment. Little is known about how this early hospital was run or the health of the people of Rotherham. Other workhouse reports around the same time described workhouse infirmaries were basic, dirty, dismal places where disease was likely to spread.

The people of Rotherham were hit with one infectious disease after another. Although vaccinations were available the medical office reported in September 1840 that the charge of two shillings and six pence per vaccination was beyond the means of many people. A number of people were also admitted to the workhouse for the treatment of cholera. The first case of Cholera was diagnosed in Sunderland on the 23rd October 183,1 a man named William Sproat. By 1835, 21,882 people had already died in England and Wales and a further 9,592 in Scotland and 25,378 in Ireland. Cholera returned in 1848 and this time the death toll was much higher, possibly as many as a quarter of million.

Leeds Workhouse Mr. and Mrs. Foster were both admitted into Rotherham workhouse hospital with Cholera on the 12th September 1849. Mr Foster died the same evening but his wife remained there and even though she was still very ill she was discharged after only three weeks. On returning home, she was so unwell her sister took her to Leeds to care for her as she could not even dress herself. As Mrs Fosters cholera was still in an advance state and she remained so ill she was admitted to Leeds workhouse for further treatment.

Cholera attacks the victim suddenly and quickly. They would suffer from severe vomiting and diarrhoea, the patient would be cold and clammy but their beds would be saturated with sweat. They would have pains and cramps in their fingers or toes and prickly sensations in their arms and legs. The skin and finger nails turned blue or black. Patients complained of chest pains before collapsing into a coma from sheer exhaustion, death usually would soon follow. Doctors had no remedy; traditional treatments using opium and calomel were ineffective. Doctors didn't know how to treat it ; some would use laxatives to exhaust their patients further. Others attempted to keep the patients warm to prevent the onset of cramps. Bleeding patients was a matter of course but nothing appeared to work.

Complaint Letter The treatment of Jane Foster by Rotherham's workhouse led to a complaint by Leeds Board of Guardians, (The committee that ran the Leeds workhouse) who where based at 1 Lady Lane, Leeds. A public enquiry by the Poor Law Board led to a more permanent hospital wards being set up within Rotherham workhouse. By the next Poor Law visit on 2nd April 1850 they reported that the sick and infectious wards appeared to be sufficient. The rooms were set apart from the main wards and appeared in a proper state.

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