TYPHUS FEVER 103 



The epidemiologic history of Britain during the Napoleonic wars 

 presents many points of interest. Food prices were high. For a time 

 American markets were closed to British manufacturers. Still, the 

 period (1803-1816) was comparatively free from typhus, so far as 

 Britain was concerned. In peace the poor man's business is to serve 

 the rich, clothe himself in rags, rear his family in a stye and eat 

 nothing. In war he becomes a hero, the defender of his king and 

 country. He is well clothed, well fed and all that is asked of him is 

 that he die for his country if need be. The wife and children at 

 home must be cared for because more soldiers will be needed. 



Immediately after the declaration of peace (1816) typhus began to 

 increase and within another year it took on epidemic proportions. 

 The condition of the London slums of the time is shown by a Par- 

 liament report as quoted by Creighton: 



Calmel's Buildings, a small court near Portman Square, consisting of twenty- 

 four houses, in which lived seven hundred Irish in distress and profligacy, neg- 

 lected by the parish and shunned by everyone from fear of contagion. George 

 Yard, Whitechapel, consisting of forty houses in which lived two thousand 

 persons in a similar state of wretchedness. 



In 1831 typhus became epidemic in England and continued its rav- 

 ages for more than ten years. The destitution and sickness among 

 the poor of Manchester in the latter part of this epidemic (1839-1841) 

 formed the basis of the story of Mary Barton written by Mrs. Gaskell. 

 The author dwells on the bitterness on the part of the poor. 



The most deplorable and enduring evil that arose out of the period of com- 

 mercial depression to which I refer, was this feeling of alienation between the 

 different classes of society. It is so impossible to describe, or even faintly to 

 picture, the state of distress which prevailed in the town at that time, that I 

 will not attempt it; yet I think again that surely in a Christian land, it 

 was not known so feebly as words could tell it, or the more fortunate and 

 happy would have thronged with their sympathy and aid. In many instances 

 the sufferers wept first and then cursed. Their vindictive feelings exhibited 

 themselves in rabid politics. And when I hear, as I have heard, of the suffer- 

 ings and privations of the poor, of provision shops where ha'porths of tea, 

 sugar, butter and even flour were sold to accommodate the indigent of parents 

 sitting in their clothes by the fireside during the whole night for seven weeks 

 together, in order that their only bed and bedding might be reserved for the 

 use of their large family of others sleeping upon the cold hearth stone for 



