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Updated: May 31, 2025


Gaol-fever, spotted or putrid fever, or typhus fever has practically ceased to be a regularly occurring disease in the West of Europe. The last cases in London were, I well remember, in a poor district near the Marylebone Road about thirty years ago. A very few cases have appeared since, in the over-crowded and poorest districts of our largest cities.

Leigh, going down on business to Exeter Assizes, caught as was too common in those days the gaol-fever from the prisoners, sickened in the very court, and died within a week. "You must be my father now, sir," said young Amyas firmly to Sir Richard Grenville, on the day after the funeral.

A hundred years ago it was as dangerous to the life of an unhappy prisoner to await his trial in Newgate as to stand between the opposing forces on a battlefield. Gaol-fever attacked not only the prisoners, but the judge and the jury and the strangers in the court.

Gaol-fever was due to dirt; its infecting germs were distributed by loathsome insects. At first the larger and more obvious hurtful creatures snakes, rats, mice, scorpions, blow-flies were eliminated by some elementary attempts at removal of rubbish and kitchen middens.

Three of the brethren went to the gallows; the rest were flung into Newgate, chained to posts in a noisome dungeon where, "tied and not able to stir," they were left to perish of gaol-fever and starvation.

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