Before COVID-19 - Some Personal Stories About Children Who Suffered Diphtheria...(1937).
This post is a continuation of the previous post "Before COVID-19...Diphtheria In Subiaco (1937)." about diphtheria in Subiaco between 1936 and 1937.
One of the really interesting things is reading the personal stories of the people and children who lived and died of various diseases in the early years of the colony along with all the facts about the disease.
The first article is from a child Violet Nalor from Fremantle who contracted diphtheria who wrote to Aunt Bessy in the Children's Corner at the W.A Record in 1913.
The second story is about a diphtheria patient giving birth to a baby boy at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in West Subiaco in 1937.
The third story is from 1933 and about a little girl who had contracted diphtheria and survived. "...Mr. Stan M'Innes' daughter, on reaching Perth with her mother was diagnosed as having had diphtheria and only a strong heart and constitution saved her life. The after effects was the enigma a local medico failed to solve..." (Southern Cross Times 8 July, 1933).
The fourth story is about an orphan Johnny who over came diphtheria in 1948.
Over the years many Western Australian children and adults died and families suffered from diphtheria. Many of those tragic stories are shared on Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia.
The articles and photograph are from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
The W.A. Record, Sat 28 Jun 1913
Aunt Bessy's Corner
3 John-street, Fremantle. I am eleven years old, and attend the Convent School in Parry-street. I am in the Fourth Standard. We are working hard at school just now, as Sister has promised a prize to the child who has the most marks at the end of the month for lessons and home-work. Would you be so kind as to say a little prayer for me that I may be successful. I shall write to you again next month and 1st you know how I got on.
On Easter Sunday my little brother was taken to the hospital with diphtheria. On Easter Monday I also was taken there with the same thing. We both are well now, and hope never to have it again. It is such a horrible thing. There is one of my school friends in the same ward as myself. The nurses were all very kind, and so was the doctor. I was glad to go back to school again after being home such a length of time.
There has been a lot of sickness in Fremantle, especially whooping cough. My three sisters and myself went to a Fancy Dress Ball. I went as a Spanish Dancer. It was in aid of the East Fremantle Stall for the forthcoming bazaar. I think it proved to be a great success, and I am sure those ladies who worked so bird in preparing for it are perfectly satisfied with the results. VIOLET NAYLOR.
Glad to hear that you are well again, Violet, and hope you will be successful in winning a prize. AUNT BESSY.
Mirror, 6 March 1937.
BABY BOY BORN
In Infectious Diseases Hospital Remarkable Case at West Subiaco
This week the wards of the Infectious Diseases Hospital at West Subiaco suddenly echoed to the cries of a baby. A diphtheria patient had given birth to a baby boy. The mother is now well on the way to recovery, and as the little chap showed a negative swab at birth, he should leave the hospital in a few days, quite oblivious of, and none the worse for, the unusual surroundings in which he came into the world.
Fears for the baby were held when, a week before her expected confinement, the mother discovered to her horror that she had contracted diphtheria. Her little three-year-old daughter had been ailing for several days, and both were immediately rushed to the Infectious Diseases Hospital. There every precaution was taken to give the baby every possible chance. A special room was hastily prepared and the mother segregated from the rest of the patients. Her plight was a particularly unenviable one. Diphtheria is a disease which takes terrible toll of
A PATIENT'S VITALITY
very often permanently weakening the heart. That was one possibility that had to be carefully guarded against if either the mother or baby was to live through the experience. Another possibility was that the kiddie would be infected at birth, or that, naturally having little resistance, would speedily contract the disease; while the danger of the mother being weakened beyond resistance was also recognised. For just over a week there was unusual activity in the hospital, and on Tuesday the little room at the end of the ward became the centre of great interest when doctors and nurses were hastily summoned.
There was great excitement when a lusty, full-throated cry suddenly disturbed the serenity of the ward, and it was announced that swab taken from the baby proved to be negative. Double efforts were then made to ensure that no undue exposure should result in infection. Those efforts have been successful.
The mother and daughter both showed
NEGATIVE SWABS
during the week and are due for discharge shortly. The baby is a fine, healthy boy good tempered and quiet, and doesn't give the nurses the slightest bother. He will probably be discharged next week, one of the few babies ever to be born in an Infectious Diseases Hospital and live through the experience.
Southern Cross Times, 15 July 1933.
MEDICAL MATTER
DOCTORS' OPINIONS DIFFER A "DIPTHERIA" CASE
A recent illness of the daughter of Mr. Stan M'Innes in which is was stated the diagnosis was at fault, led to the little girl being taken by her parents without loss of time, when they saw her condition becoming serious, to the coast for further advice and treatment.
When Dr. W. H. Nelson of 58 Hay Street Subiaco saw the child he at once said to Mr. and Mrs. M'Innes that it was a diphtheria case and that the critical stage had been passed through, mainly because of her good constitution and strong heart. After a week's treatment at the home of her grandmother, 36 Violet Grove, W. Subiaco Mrs. M'Innes brought your daughter home to Southern Cross.
There has been a lot of talk indulged in over this case, and much of it quite uncalled for. Several people in this town have formed very pronounced opinions after hearing only one side of the question and the upon indulged in the use of language the reverse of what is accepted in polite circles.
In doing so such persons only display the vagaries of those who possess ill balanced minds. It is therefore to be regretted that out of a very simple case such a mountain of gossip and ill-natured talk has arisen.
Indeed it would appear, when suital cases are remembered that in this community is a section who seize on an opportunity to create scandal utter malicious aspersions on those who figure in the discussion.
In this matter, the following paragraph was published in this paper on July 8: — "Mr. Stan M'Innes' daughter, on reaching Perth with her mother was diagnosed as having had diphtheria and only a strong heart and constitution saved her life. The after effects was the engima a local medico failed to solve."
To the above, the following reply has been received.
(To THE EDITOR.) Sir,—In the issue of your journal for July 8, I protest very strongly against the paragraph in the personal column dealing with Iris M'Innes. At no time was she attended by me for diphtheria. If the child had had diphtheria, it would have spread far and wide as she was never isolated.
As far as I am concerned there was no "enigma" whatever about her recent trouble. I hope that this will not occur again. If it does, I shall be obliged to put the matter in the hands of the medical defence association, and it will deal with the situation.—Yours etc., W. H. MacGRANAHAN,
10/7/33 When Mr. M'Innes was asked whether he had any comment to make on Dr. MacGranahan's statement, he said that the little girl was making no improvement under the treatment here and was apparently becoming worse, so he decided to have further advice in Perth. He called on Dr. W. H. Nelson who had attended his mother and when the doctor saw the child he at once said that she had had diphtheria.
A careful examination of Iris confirmed the first opinion. He added, too, that when Iris was being attended by Dr. MacGranahan, no swab was taken. After the child's return to Southern Cross on Sunday, July 2, it was quite true be and his wife took the children to a football match in a closed sedan car where they were fully protected from the atmosphere.
He had been advised a week ago by the doctor here that he would write to Dr. Nelson and ask for his opinion on the child. So far he (Mr. M'Innes) had not heard whether a reply was received in answer to the inquiry. He resented the busy bodies who had discussed his child's illness and treatment.
However, that was a matter he would take steps to deal with in his own way. With regard to the health of Iris, he said that she was still affected by the effects of the diphtheria, as she had practically no power in her knee joints and could not stand without assistance. Surely that would convince the most sceptical minded persons.
What is forgotten in this discussion is that Iris M'Innes was at Boulder for a number of weeks where she evidently contracted the diphtheria and was recovering when she came home.
Daily News, 12 January 1948.
ON THE ROAD to recovery after cheating death many times in three months, 19 months-old orphan Johnny. Johnny takes a look at a Daily News cameraman from the arms of Infectious Diseases Branch nurse Thelma Frazier.
On the verge of death for more than three months, 19-months-old Johnny is now on the road to recovery. After 12 weeks of injections, steam tents and constant attention, he can at last sit up and take an interest in things.
Fair-haired, and brown eyed, Johnny is an orphan. Suffering from laryngear diphtheria, he was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital West Subiaco, in October. For about ten weeks his heart was feeble and stimulants had to be given every half hour.
