Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 06 June 1928

Smallpox Victim.
 The Plight of a Wath Girl at Blackpool.

The plight of a stranded servant girl was revealed at last night’s meeting of the Wath upon-Dearne Urban Council, when the Chairman (Mr. G. Cook) read letter received from the Medical Officer of Health for Blackpool. The letter stated that the girl, who was a native of Wath, had gone into service in Blackpool, but had developed smallpox, and had, therefore, been removed to the Blackpool Smallpox Hospital.  She was now progressing well and would soon be discharged.

Her employer was not taking her back in service, and the girl was stranded. “Can anything be done for her?’’ asked the Medical Officer. “Have you any funds from which the gir!’s fare home, about 11 shillings could be paid?”

Dr. T. Crowley, Medical Officer at said the girl left Wath on May 18th, developed smallpox on May 22nd. “It is hard lines for the girl. If she had been ’notified’ before she left Wath she would have cost us a great deal more than 11s.

The Clerk the Council stated that no money could be paid over for such a cause out of the rates. The Chairman suggested that they should leave it to the Medical Officer to get the girl home.

“I assure Dr. Crowley,” lie added, “that the members of the Council will find the money.” This suggestion was adopted.