Whooping Cough

April 1878

Mexborough Times, 12th
April, 1878

Whooping Cough

During the months of January and February, whooping cough made sad havoc amongst the wee ones of Conisboro´, and mothers were at their wits end, adopting first one then another supposed remedy. In the month of March, when the epidemic began to decline the Medical Officer, made his appearance and closed the schools, thus testifying that even medical officers can occasionally “Lock the stable door after the horse is gone.” Many are the doubtsas to the wisdonof closing the schools. Mothers cannot always have their children confined indoors, and the little knots playing in every available crook and corner are sufficient evidence that they do not attempt to do so, and it is to be very much feared that the inclemency of the past few weeks has made far more victims than the warm, yet well ventilated schoolrooms would have done.

Again the ratepayers pay for the stoning of the highways but the fields in the immediate vicinity of the village bear witness that the schoolboys instead of solving the position of those stars which spangle in the firmament employ their own energies in forming strong “milkways” upon the green verdure.

Mothers, farmers, and the ratepayers generally will be thankful when the schoolboys begin their studies again.

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