Before COVID-19... SmallPox and Ellen Amelia Montague (1893) Part Two.
This is the second post on the outbreak of SmallPox in 1893. The first being the previous post 'Before COVID-19... SmallPox (1893). Part One'. This post is about the death of the first victim, Mrs Montague putting a human face on disease.
From the first post ... "Before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the challenges of vaccination of that disease in 2021, the newspapers in the early years of the colony in Western Australia reported on the outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and whooping cough. By the 1930's vaccines had been developed but there were significant challenges in getting the population immunised against them.
In March 1893. there was an outbreak of smallpox in Perth. A tent encampment was established in Subiaco on the outskirts of the city and played an important part for those suspected of and who were diagnosed with the disease. Then later in 1893 the site became the Victoria Hospital for Infectious Diseases and then in 1938 until 1956, the Metropolitan Infectious Diseases Hospital."
In 1893, the newspapers reported on the individuals who contracted and died from disease. The first person to die in this small pox epidemic was Mrs Montague. Mrs Montague was only 25 years and only been married a year. She was pregnant, gave birth to a still born baby and had also contracted typhoid. She never fully recovered. Her story is copied below.
The newspapers of the day did not report her name only referred to her as Mrs Montague. The Karrakatta Cemetery site records her Christian name as Ellen Amelia and she was actually 25 years old, not 28 years old as the newspapers reported. She was Roman Catholic.
The article is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
West Australian, 19 April 1893.
THE SMALL-POX EPIDEMIC.
DEATH OF MRS. MONTAGUE.
The first death which can in any way be attributed to the small-pox epidemic occurred yesterday morning, when Mrs. Montague succumbed to the illness which had overtaken her. In the words of Dr. O'Connor, the unfortunate woman had a relapse on Monday night, from which she never rallied.
The history of the case needs only to be repeated to indicate how far death was directly due to small-pox, and in what measure other causes contributed to her pre-mature end. She first became ill on Wednesday, the 5th, now exactly a fortnight ago. She was delivered of a child (still-born), and she became worse.
Dr. Haynes was called in, and diagnosed the case as confluent small-pox, and; gave very little hope of her recovery. She continued ill, various bulletins being issued as to her state, and on Sunday had slightly improved. Had it not been for the sudden relapse, which has ended in death, it had been intended to remove Mrs. Montague to the Subiaco quarantine station yesterday morning.
The weakness caused child-birth augmented the danger from the disease, and when to this has to be added that a third complication existed, it will be teen that there is no cause for additional alarm as to the safety of the remaining patients.
A few months ago the deceased had a severe attack of typhoid, lasting for five or six weeks, which shattered her constitution, which was never very strong. She was not able to withstand the attacks of disease, her heart being always very weak.
She was about 28 years of age, and had only been married about a year.
Her burial took place at midnight in the proposed new cemetery at Subiaco. She was placed in a coffin tarred inside and out, and containing a quantity of quicklime. The funeral arrangements were in the charge of Mr. D. Chipper, who was accompanied to the burying ground by a policeman. A priest applied for permission to be present at the interment, but the Health Officer, whilst not actually forbidding it, strongly, advised that the attendance at the grave be limited as the circumstances would allow, and that it would be especially dangerous to the public health if one, whose duties necessitated close communication with many of the residents, should be in such close proximity to a source of infection.
Extreme Unction had been administered to the deceased ten days ago, and, although interred without the usual religious rites at the grave, the customary prayers will be offered on her behalf.
