Introduction
The Maidstone Typhoid Epidemic in 1897 was the largest typhoid epidemic in the U.K, with over 1,900 people infected; at least 132* people died. The high survival rates were due in part to the more professional and technical nursing care which occurred following the mid-nineteenth nursing reforms, and scientific advancements.
In 1899 the Penny Lick, a glass measure which ice cream was sold in, was banned in London; it was thought that the glasses which were unwashed between customers were a cause of diseases such as Typhoid, Cholera and TB.
The Maidstone Typhoid epidemic medal was presented to nurses and others who cared for the people with typhoid during the epidemic. [Controversially it was not awarded to doctors and not all of the nurses; voluntary nurses are thought to have also missed out.]
Probationer nurse Edith Cavell, seconded with nine probationer colleagues by Matron Eva Luckes from the London Hospital, Whitechapel was among those who was awarded a medal; this was to be the only medal awarded to her, before she was executed by the Germans during WW1.Three nurses are reported to have caught Typhoid; this was an occupational hazard. It appears that two of these were Gertrude Balston, and Mary Candler.
*Some reports give 135, as records were barely kept it seems entirely likely that the death rate was higher.
I studied the nurses of the 1897 Maidstone Typhoid Epidemic for a dissertation as part of an M.Litt. in Family and Local History. Please do contact me if you would like more information about the nurses.
Grateful thanks to all who have kindly allowed their photographs to be used.
Many thanks also to all the archivists who have helped me in any way with this research, in-particular Jonathan Evans, former Archivist at The Royal London Hospital Museum and Archives, the Kent Local History Centre, Giles Guthrie at Maidstone Museum, Barts Archives, The London Metropolitan Archives, UCH Archives and Dix Noonan Web for use of the photographs.
Copyright: Sarah Rogers, 31/01/2021
In 1899 the Penny Lick, a glass measure which ice cream was sold in, was banned in London; it was thought that the glasses which were unwashed between customers were a cause of diseases such as Typhoid, Cholera and TB.
The Maidstone Typhoid epidemic medal was presented to nurses and others who cared for the people with typhoid during the epidemic. [Controversially it was not awarded to doctors and not all of the nurses; voluntary nurses are thought to have also missed out.]
Probationer nurse Edith Cavell, seconded with nine probationer colleagues by Matron Eva Luckes from the London Hospital, Whitechapel was among those who was awarded a medal; this was to be the only medal awarded to her, before she was executed by the Germans during WW1.Three nurses are reported to have caught Typhoid; this was an occupational hazard. It appears that two of these were Gertrude Balston, and Mary Candler.
*Some reports give 135, as records were barely kept it seems entirely likely that the death rate was higher.
I studied the nurses of the 1897 Maidstone Typhoid Epidemic for a dissertation as part of an M.Litt. in Family and Local History. Please do contact me if you would like more information about the nurses.
Grateful thanks to all who have kindly allowed their photographs to be used.
Many thanks also to all the archivists who have helped me in any way with this research, in-particular Jonathan Evans, former Archivist at The Royal London Hospital Museum and Archives, the Kent Local History Centre, Giles Guthrie at Maidstone Museum, Barts Archives, The London Metropolitan Archives, UCH Archives and Dix Noonan Web for use of the photographs.
Copyright: Sarah Rogers, 31/01/2021