The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 5)

[Siamese Girl]

In the days before antiseptics and antibiotics an infirmary with the easy spread of infection would have been the last place you would have wanted to be if you were ill.

I think they had a greater understanding of some cancers then than you'd think http://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Breast-Cancer.aspx
and mastectomy was practiced in the C18th. Fanny Burney underwent one in 1811 and described it in graphic detail http://wesclark.com/jw/mastectomy.html - major surgery without any anaesthetic  but in her case it was successful and she lived another 30 years.

Carole

[alpinecottage]

Ouch!!!!

Yes, clearly mastectomies were done, but not routinely even in 1846 and not on poorer people.

[Ruskie]

I had a look at the drainage plans today.   Nothing before 1906 when No. 10 was having its one toilet moved from the back of the house to the far side of the tiny yard.  Perhaps the smell was getting bad?
In 1913 the Health Inspector was complaining to the owners (a building firm in South Norwood) that both 9 & 10 were filthy.   No indication of what they were being used for.

Thanks very much for looking Mongibello. So it looks like this is just before the buildings were refurbished. Might that also mean that there was no drainage prior to 1906? 

[Ruskie]

Welcome Icicle and thanks for the interesting insight into your relative's diary.

I think it's good that we're now giving Nathaniel the benefit of the doubt and feeling a bit warmer towards him. There may also be some element of embarassment as Mary has a "woman's" illness? 

Colin has a point too - Mary might have been trying for the sympathy vote. But we do know she died the following year, so perhaps not. I still feel really sorry for poor Mary ... 

[Ruskie]

Nursery maid at Wharf left her situation.

I'm still thinking dog - it's nearly 3 weeks since Dummer had her puppies. This might be the first time she's left them on their own. I can't think there were any human nursemaids living at the wharf.

Carole

 

Um a new dog arrived today. 

Tuesday
New nursery maid came to Wharf this day.

[Ruskie]

Maid -
A female domestic servant. Class included Scullery, Kitchen, House, General, Parlour,
Nurse, Laundry, Lady's etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursemaid

There may have been some families who lived at the wharf - caretakers perhaps. Someone has to be there to take care of Dummer and her pups. 

[Ruskie]

Thursday 5th February 1846
A letter directed to Mr Lloyd, postage unpaid, when opened proved to be a Valentine, supposed to be meant for me by my name being mentioned twice, or more, and which I suspect was sent by the nursery maid at Eccleston Wharf.  If so, I feel obliged to her for directing it to Mr Lloyd, thereby saving me 2d.  Her motive for so doing I know not, but she reversed the picture by sending an old house maid with mop and broom, thereby taking herself off rather than me. 

08 June 1846
Monday
Mary Howard, maidservant at Eccleston Wharf, this day completes her 20th year.

A few mentions of the nursery maid ....  Bit of flirting between the two perhaps? I think she's too young for Nathaniel.

There are several Mary Howards of the right age in the right area in 1841 so impossible to know which is the correct one .... 

[Colin Cruddace]

To quote from Ruskie's findings on the Lea family, perhaps a wharf was a general area, like Canary Wharf, and not just a place where boats cum in  

marriage:
George LEA = Ann Matilda DELL
22 Oct 1842, after Banns
St Pancras Parish Church

George = Batchelor, full age, coal merchant, father: CHARLES LEA dead
address: Northumberland wharf, Regents Park

Anna Matilda = Full age, spinster, father: William Mostly?? Dell, Gent
address: ?chol House, Havenlook? Hill

witnesses:
Charles Lea and Mary Lea

[Ruskie]

Yes, good thought Colin. It was certainly where all the action took place in those days.

I just tried googling Eccleston Wharf and just found links to Nat's diary.