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modern Haringey, not only as a reminder of what has occurred in the past but as a warning of what
of what could happen in the future. We have also studied back copies of 'The Tottenham Herald' of
that time, and are grateful to the editor of 'The Tottenham and Edmonton Herald' for allowing us
access to his files.
The period covered was that of the closing months of the Boer War, and mention is also made in the
press of incidents like the illness and the coronation of Edward VII, and a murder on Tottenham
Marshes with a subsequent trial and conviction. The Tottenham of those days was in some ways
very different from what it is now — quieter, with a slower, more relaxed tempo of life. Mother
Siegal's Curative Syrup was widely acclaimed the panacea of all ills. But tragedy was never far
away, and almost every issue of the newspaper had its sad chronicle of inquests, mainly concerned
with the deaths of young children. And yet a feeling of great vitality rises from the pages, and
the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspurs were as great a focus of interest and enthusiasm then as now.
For the readers of the 'Tottenham Herald' the great smallpox epidemic stole quietly on to the scene.
A letter published on 18th October 1901, requested cast-off clothes for victims of smallpox whose
clothes had had to be destroyed. Dr. Butler-Hogan's report stated that the first patient was
diagnosed on 28th August. By 8th November there had been a generous response to the appeal
for clothing. The number of cases must by then have exceeded 25. A ratepayer protested that
the Council was being charged 7/6 per head for the vaccination of paupers while local doctors
would do it for between 2/6 and 5/-. When the year ended there had been 53 cases and 7 deaths.
On 10th January 1902, the newspaper reported a poignant court case. A labourer had been charged
for being drunk and disorderly. It was stated in his defence .that he had just been discharged from
the smallpox hospital, but his two children who went in with him had died. Some friends sympathised
and gave him a drink, which in his weak state soon overcame him. The magistrate could see no
friendship in giving a man too much to drink, and fined him a shilling plus seven shillings for a
doctor's fee, but gave him a week in which to pay. "I am much obliged to you sir", said the man.
Hopes that the epidemic was declining were disappointed. While the numbers were climbing
towards a January total of 40, the Council decided to erect a temporary smallpox hospital on the
Down's Lane site, to be paid for out of the rates. In spite of protests from local people it was
erected within a fortnight and was ready for use in the middle of February.
Opinion in the Council was divided. It discussed a proposal that the Beckenham Local Government
Board should repeal the clause which allowed conscientious objectors to avoid the operation of the
vaccination laws, and decided not to support it. Anti-vaccinationists on the Council claimed that
vaccination was a lot of rubbish and ruined thousands of lives by putting poison into the blood of
children. One said that he would rather go to prison than have his children vaccinated. At about
this time the Finance Committee authorised the payment of £111 and £81 in vaccination fees to a
local doctor.
By the end of the month the Medical Officer of Health, probably a predecessor of Dr. Butler-Hogan,
had taken successful legal action against an un-named medical practitioner, who had notified a
patient with smallpox by sending him to the health department with a letter. It was evidently felt
that there were less hazardous methods of informing the authority.
A total for February was 44 cases, but controversy was still raging. An editorial on 7th March
advised the public to take the trouble to think. Much attention was focused on schools. The
School Board had issued a circular letter to head teachers at the end of the previous year, counselling
them to be vaccinated themselves and advising that as far as possible the school staff and children
should be recommended to have it. A councillor now strenuously opposed a proposal to allow the
Medical Officer of Health to inspect children to see if they were vaccinated, and to issue pamphlets
recommending vaccination. "This fad of vaccination is getting abominable", he said. "We cannot
move without having it thrust down our throats". Nevertheless the Council agreed the proposal, and
made a ruling that children kept away from school as smallpox contacts would not lose their silver
medals for good attendance. But some adult contacts were proving to be difficult, one of them being
found in a public house.
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