During the 1890s typhoid fever in the Goldfields reached epidemic proportions. An infectious food and water-borne disease, typhoid was linked to poor sanitation, often combined with overcrowding.
Funeral of Robert Thompson, who died of Typhoid, Kalgoorlie 1895
‘Instant’ crowded tent towns, unsanitary conditions, and a limited fouled water supply combined with basic health amenities, provided ideal conditions for the spread of the disease. Its greatest impact was during the long, hot summer months.
Prevention better than Cure!
In the early years of the epidemic, up to twenty percent of – mostly – healthy young men, died. Nearly 2000 people in Western Australia were officially recorded as dying of the disease, though the actual number was far greater. Most deaths occurred on the goldfields. An estimated ten times more people suffered from the disease. It was the largest episode of epidemic typhoid in Australia’s history. A gradual decline in cases saw a return to regular levels by 1910.
Reports of the Day!!!!
“The combination of camels, Afghans, half-empty tins, and a mining camp of 10,000 people innocent of sewers or dust-carts forms a unique smell . . . some day this will be altered when a few more people die of typhoid.”
‘Avoid Typhoid” Poster
Health of town most unsatisfactory. Fever spreading, deaths daily and business threatened. No sanitary measures enforced or enforceable . . .
An excellent book which tells of the ‘Two Fevers, Gold and Typhoid’ in the first decade of the start of the Goldrushes in Western Australia is this publication:- “Gold and Typhoid, Two Fevers by Vera Wittington
Gold and Typhoid – Two Fevers
SeeMore:- http://bit.ly/1LqiylE
This book is currently ‘Out of Print’ but copies can be obtained from reputable online rare or second hand books sites such as:- www.addall.com/ or www.abebooks.com/ or through your local library loan.
“What is Typhoid Fever? – Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to other people in the area.”
Ref: WA Museum – WA Goldfields http://museum.wa.gov.au/
Moya Sharp
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My GGF Thomas Pascoe died Southern Cross 16 March 1895 from Typhoid Fever. He didn’t last long in WA having travelled from Westland NZ Goldfields with his family in Nov/Dec 1894. Although this would have been very hard on the remaining family of seven, they managed to survive via a range of activities including mining (Southern Cross, Edjudina, Mount Magnet), Boardinghouse Management on Golden Gate Mining Leases, Running Goldfields Wine Saloon etc.
Thomas was born Cornwall 1828, went to Victorian Goldfields 1885 then to NZ late 1860’s. Married Annie Watkins in Hokitika 1871, mined at Ross (German Gully) till 1880 then Kumara until migration to Coolgardie Goldfields.
Staggering really, and how life has changed in a relatively short period of time!!
Oops……Make that 1855 that Thomas went from Cornwall to the Victorian Goldfields.