Wellingborough News, 28th January 1882, transcribed by Kay Collins

Health Reports in the Wellingborough Rural Sanitary Authority
VARIOUSAs to the rest of your district, there has been one death from scarlet fever at Finedon; also two cases of sporadic typhoid fever in Rushden. Both these cases are doing well. The cause of these cases was miasmatic. The case of small-pox at Wymington was discharged on January 7th.

SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF MEASLESWe regret to state that a most serious epidemic of measles is now prevalent in the town, there being at the present time over a hundred cases, and three or four deaths from this disease were recorded last week. The attendance at the various schools is therefore much affected, it being reported to us that in some instances only half the number on the books were in attendance, and on Thursday morning at the Infant School at the back of the Coffee Tavern only 35 children were in attendance out of 150, this being attributed mainly to the epidemic.

Female Benefit Club AnniversaryThe 20th anniversary of the above club was celebrated tea and social gathering on New Year's Eve, the New Hall. Tea was served in the hall, to which a good number sat down, after which the rest of the evening ..............

Serious Outbreak of Influenza at Rushden - Business ImpededThe influenza is spreading with alarming rapidity Rushden and neighbourhood. Business at most of the factories is considerably impeded owing the large number of employees on the sick list.

VITAL STATISTICSIn the Higham Ferrers Registration district during the past quarter 112 births have occurred, 57 being males and 55 female. The deaths numbered 90, 31 being males and 59 females. 13 have died from whooping cough (all from Rushden), and from influenza 12, whilst two inquests have been held.

Vital StatisticsThe births registered in the Higham Ferrers district for the past quarter numbered 135, and deaths 58. Of the deaths 14 were under one year of age, 33 under sixty, and 11 over sixty. Three died from whooping cough, two from diarrhoea, and one from scarlet fever. Inquests, five.

A Collection, taken in Rushden on behalf of Mr W Johnson, who has been ill for some time, by Messrs A Green, E Cox, J Pearson, and W Knight, realised £7 18s. 4d. Mr J Bull was treasurer.

A Benefit Concert was given at the Athletic Club on Sunday evening for Mr Driver, who has been ill for upwards of three years and is now in the last stage of consumption. The following kindly gave their servicesChairman, Mr J Willmott; vice-chairman, Mr H Willis; pianist, Mr H Betts (from the Eden Theatre).

Bedford County Hospital - The total number in-patients was 866, and of these 398 came from Bedford. 40 from Kempston. 22 Sandy. 16 New Fenlake. 13 Rushden. 11 Wootton, 16 Potton, 8 Cranfield, 8 Shefford, and several from outside the county. [report also states that 25 Rushden people attended as out-patients]

OPERATION Doris Ivy Page, the infant daughter of Mr and Mrs B Page, of Rushden, has this week undergone a serious operation at Bedford Hospital for tonsillitis and other troubles. The operation was quite successful, and the patient is now going on nicely.

EpidemicsAt the meeting of the Rushden Education Committee on Tuesday Mr. Mantle (attendance officer) reported that measles, scarlet fever, and diphtheria had been prevalent during the quarter, the children of no fewer than 120 families having been excluded from the schools in consequence of the epidemics. In four of the five infants schools the classes for children under five years of age had been closed by order of the Medical Officer of Health.

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC in the town felt most severely this week than hitherto. Some of the factories have been running with staffs down nearly 50 per cent. On Tuesday the North-End Schools were closed by order of the Medical Officer (Dr. Muriset). The other schools had shown attendances little over 55 per cent. last week, and there has been no improvement this week. A remarkable feature is the different symptoms experienced and shown by people affected with the malady. Few have escaped entirely.

Mr Vander-Heyden, of Newton-road, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia following influenza, had been making progress during the present week, but this morning had a slight relapse.

£23 was realised by a flag day, held in Rushden on Monday, in aid of the Rushden clinic of the Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital, Northampton.

The committee of the Orthopaedic Hospital, wish to thank all helpers for the flag day last Monday.

Mumps Danger - Rushden Doctor Criticises School Authorities
The Medical Officer to Rushden Urban Council, at the meeting of that authority on Wednesday, criticised the action of education authorities who insist that when a child has mumps children living in the same house should continue to go to school.

Mumps Danger
Coun. Spencer referred to the Medical Officer’s report (given to the Health Committee) that the health of the town was satisfactory, and asked whether, in view of the epidemic of mumps, the position was in fact satisfactory.

“If it is not,” replied Dr. Davies, “it is partly due, I think, to the education authorities. They insist that when a child has mumps other children living in the same house should continue to go to school.”

Though the question has not yet been settled, the Health Committee preferred the Council’s Newton-road depot to the First Aid Post as a place for the future treatment of scabies and typhus.

Of 13 milk specimens tested under the Clean Milk Production Scheme only six were “satisfactory.”

Skin graft breakthrough
A RUSHDEN teenager's fight to return to normal life was boosted this week.

Teresa Marsden (14) had a skin graft at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. And for the first time this operation was successful on Teresa.

"She could have had no better Christmas gift," said Teresa's mother, Mrs. Lillian Marsden. Teresa of 8 Balmoral Avenue, Rushden, was injured more than a year ago in a motor cycle crash.

Her leg was broken in four places and she spent five and a half weeks in the intensive care unit at Kettering General Hospital.

She was moved to Stoke Mandeville and two weeks before Christmas doctors performed a skin graft operation. Their efforts were successful. [...continued on page 16 of the paper]