PDF (Whole thesis) - UTas ePrints - University of Tasmania

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72
Scarcely perceptible at first, by 1842 they had become so obvious that
the initial feeling of disquiet had now reached almost a state of ranic.
Previous to 1839, although there were potential bad spots as in
Brighton, the colony had felt reasonably proud of its freedom from
epidemic diseases, but with the huge influx of prisoners crowded
together in large numbers in probation camp s this was no longer true .
The first inkling of serious trouble occurred in March 1840 when typhus
fever broke out in the Penitentiary and spread to road gangs and the
prisoners in gaol.
Two hundred and twenty people were reported to be
in the Hobart Town Hospital suffering from the disease . 3 5
As there was
continual movement of prisoners from one penal establishment to another ,
often to a different area, the epidemic spread .
in the Richmond district.
It was especially bad
Although it is possible that the epidemic
was first introduced by newcomers, it was generally considered to be the
result of the bad quality of the prisoners • food and the 11sheer misery
of their unhappy conditions11•
opinion of the fever
On March 27, 1840 , Officer expressed his
.... the prevailing fever , as it has appeared among the
various convict establishments has generally been of a low
typhoid character, requiring in its treatment the
exhibition of stimulants in the very early stages. Its
origin, we conceive, is chiefly to be attributed to an
atmospheric cause , and its prevalence among the convicts
to the unfavourable and peculiar circumstances under
which this class of the community is placed .... 3 6
During the next two years the epidemic spread with varying intensitv to
most settled parts of the island, with few fami lies escaping it altogethT
By January 1842, it was prevalent in Bothwell causing Hal l much hard war
and anxiety . It also brought tragedy to his own fami ly . On January 3(:
hfs infant daughter) Alexandrina, aged eight months and six clays , died ir;
spite of her father 's ministrations . 3 7 As Mary and Edward were
conscientious, loving parents, the effect of their daughter 's death from
such a cause was great indeed . Although it is not possib le to define
Hall's reactions to his own medical expertise, or rather to the lack of
it, it is nevertheless true that the study and prevention of epidemic
diseases became one of his major concerns as the years went by.
In March , Hal l arranged for another surgeon to care for the
Bothwell district while he journeyed to Hobart Town to be present at a
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3 5 True Colonist, March 6, 1840.
36 True Colonist , March 27, 1840 .
3 7 Colonial Times, Feb . 1, 1842.