Smallpox

Smallpox was a highly infectious disease which killed millions of people. The last known case in the world was reported in October 1977.

There was a great deal of fear in the community, and reports of the disease were taken very seriously. A case was discovered in Main Road, Ballarat East in April 1858, and the Ballarat Star article included a copy of the law in relation to reporting the disease: "II. If the occupier or person in charge any house in which any case of small pox shall occur or the parent or guardian of a child afflicted with such disease shall neglect to report to the local board of health (if any) or (if none) to the central board of health the occurrence of such case of small pox together with the name and place of abode of the person or child affected with such disease within twenty-four hours after it shall have come to his knowledge such occupier person, parent or guardian shall for every such offer forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding twenty pounds."

In February 1869, councils were warned of a possible outbreak: "A circular giving particular directions for the measures to be taken in case of the appearance of small-pox, has been sent by the Central Board of Health to the local boards throughout the colony. One was received by and read before the Ballarat East Council on Tuesday evening, and it was referred to the local board and its health-officer—to report on the best place to which small-pox cases could be conveyed, should they appear amongst us. Hopes being entertained that the small-pox will not spread, there will perhaps be little need for these precautionary measures; but the councils do well to be on the alert."

In 1872 new laws were passed to control disease in Victoria: "'...amongst other things enacted that the Governor in Council may make orders from time to time directing that the provisions thereinafter contained for the prevention of epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases be put in force in Victoria, or in such parts thereof, or in such places therein as in such orders respectively may be expressed...And whereas it is possible that the infection of small-pox may have been caught by persons who have not yet shown any symptoms thereof, and it is expedient that the Central Board of Health should be enabled to enforce any regulations that may appear, to be necessary for preventing the spread of the disease. Now, therefore, his Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice of the Executive Council, doth by this present order direct that the provisions contained in the said act for the prevention of epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases, be put in force in Victoria until, this Order in Council shall be revoked.”"

In June 1881, plans for a quarantine centre were discussed by the councils of Ballarat and Ballarat East: "The mayors and health officers of the city and town met last night at the City Hall to decide what action should be taken in case of an outbreak of small-pox in Ballarat. After some discussion a site for a quarantine establishment was selected, the position of which is kept strictly secret at present. It is probable that both councils at next meeting will consider carefully and order on sanitary regulations for their respective districts."

The subject of smallpox was raised at a temperance meeting in Ballarat in August 1884: "Mr Martin Hosking in addressing the Blue Ribbon meeting at the Alfred Hall last evening, said that, there were several questions agitating the minds of the people of this country at the present-time. There was one, however, of which all his hearers had no doubt heard, and that was the smallpox scare. Smallpox was a terrible disease, even in its mildest form. He (Mr Hosking) had been attacked by smallpox in his native village, when only 18 years old, and he was today thoroughly cognisant of what a sufferer from the disease had to undergo. The people of Ballarat, too, had heard of the last Ballarat leper and leprosy in general. Leprosy was, like smallpox, a terrible affliction, but neither was half as bad in its affects as the curse of intemperance. The authorities in Melbourne were in an excited state over the appearance of smallpox, and stringent measures were being taken for its isolation. But there was where the Government showed great inconsistency. They allowed the liquor traffic to go unabated, and, as a result thousands were ruined by their inattention. Smallpox disfigured the fair faces of our girls, and it also indelibly marked the manly countenances of our youth. Drink, however, not only marked the body, but it disfigured the soul, and rendered it unpleasing to Almighty God."

Smallpox in Redan
In July 1873 there were reports of smallpox in Redan: "RUMOUR OF SMALL POX IN VICTORIA.-A good deal of anxiety appears to have been caused at Ballarat on Wednesday by a report that small-pox had made its appearance at the Redan, a part of the Sebastopol. The Argus says:-The city-mayor immediately took steps to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the report, by desiring Mr. Bunce, surgeon, and Sergeant Mc Culloch to make inquiries. The alarm, our correspondent informs us by telegraph, proved groundless. Messrs. Bunce and Jenkins examined the body of a man said to have died of small-pox. It was found that he and had the disease at some time or other, his face being deeply pitted, but the cause of his death was disease of the kidneys. In another case, a child which was reported to have the small-pox was suffering from chicken-pox, and there were no signs of the dreaded malady whatever."

Possible cures
There is always someone ready to make claims for cures for all kinds of diseases, and in June 1887 a cure for a wide range of conditions, including smallpox, was advertised in the Ballarat Star: FOR THIRST, HEADACHE, SEA or BILIOUS SICKNESS, CONSTIPATION, INDEGESTION, LASSITUDE, HEARTBURN, and FEVERISH COLDS, LAMPLOUGH’S PYRETIC SALINE IS THE CERTAIN CURE. Most Refreshing to the System, Cooling and Vistalising the Blood. For the Worst Form of TYPHUS, SCARLET, JUNGLE, and other FEVERS, PRICKLY HEAT, SMALLPOX, MEASLES, ERUPTIVE or SKIN COMPLAINTS, and various other altered CONDITIONS of the BLOOD, THE GREAT REMEDY IS LAMPLOUGH’S PYRETIC SALINE.

“IT SAVED MY LIFE, for the Fever had obtained a strong hold on me. In a few days I was quite well.” C. FITZGERALD, Esq., Correspondent of the Manchester Guardian in Albania.

The testimony of numerous eminent medical gentlemen has been unqualified, as to its possession of most important elements to restore and maintain health with perfect vigor of body and mind. See bill with each bottle. It is the cure for CHOLERA, and preventative of DYSENTERY, and most other diseases and ailments incident to tropical and colonial life. Sold by all Chemists and Patent Medicine Dealers.

Disinfecting
In February 1885 a man claimed damages for his property which he said he had been incompetently disinfected in Ballarat. He asked for compensation for the value of his property. The man, who had contracted smallpox while travelling, had been put ashore in Egypt. Some of his luggage was sent on to Ballarat without being disinfected. This caused a panic in Ballarat, and the Central Board of Health instructed the police and local health officer to disinfect the luggage immediately. The best method would have been to bake the goods in a special disinfecting oven, but the doctor was sure that the hospital would not allow possibly contaminated items to be brought to them. The doctor was forced to rely on other methods which he outlined: "By authorities, the disinfectants are—(1) air,(2) water, (3) heat; either by boiling or baking clothing, or exposing clothing carpets, blankets, curtains, &c., in hot brick chambers to a temperature of 220 degrees; (1) carbolic acid should be used of the strenth of 1 in 20, i.e., 5 per cent, when intended to be used to disinfect clothing (5) sulphur as sulphurous acid gas obtained by burning sulphur. The baking mode could only be performed at the disinfecting chambers at the Hospital. This, as stated, was out of the question. The best way remaining was that named in the above, as No. 4 carbolic acid and burning sulphur."