Tuberculosis was widespread and often fatal until drug therapy was available mid 20th century.
As China struggles to manage the coronavirus outbreak first identified in December 2019, cases emerge throughout the world and health anxieties are fueled. In 1867, when Canada became an independent nation, the most common cause of death in the country was tuberculosis or TB, known in earlier times as consumption or phthisis.[i]
A review of causes of death (where available) for individuals in the database for this one-name study suggests that tuberculosis was common in Newfoundland, home to the majority of the people in the study and not part of Canada until 1949.
An article on the history of the disease in Newfoundland states that in 1909, compared to Britain, Newfoundland had more than twice the rate of tuberculosis deaths. The article also reports that the disease continued taking its toll well into the 20th century in Newfoundland with just under 32,000 TB deaths in the period 1901-1975.[ii]
Who were the victims?
Brothers Robert (aged 70) and James (aged 66), sons of William Brinston, one of the early settlers on Sound Island, Placentia Bay, died of tuberculosis just a week apart in April 1890. Both were planters and fishermen. James’ daughter Mary Ann died the same year from TB, aged 37, and her husband Charles Ambrose Piercey succumbed to it in 1894, leaving a young family orphaned.
Fletcher Giles Beck had two wives die of TB: Ester Mondella Brinston in 1902 on Sound Island and Alista Ann Adams in 1917 at Swift Current, each leaving behind young children. Fletcher himself lived to 61 dying of cancer.
The most recent case in my database is that of John Wareham, who died in 1948 in Mussel Harbour and at 74 was also the oldest victim. There are only 3 children, the youngest being Kenneth who died in 1915 aged 8 months in Mussel Harbour. Clautilda died in 1890, aged 9, on Sound Island and Hilda in 1901, aged 9, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The remainder of the victims were mostly adults in their prime years. Allison Allington Brinston had served in the Royal Navy Reserve from 1914-1918. In 1919 he married Susie, nee Reid, widow of his brother Leslie who had perished in the war when the SS Laurentic was sunk.[iii] In July 1921 Allison died of TB in North Harbour, Placentia Bay, aged 28.
Treatment
Koch discovered the tuberculosis bacillus in 1882 and sanatoria, specialized TB hospitals, were eventually built, including one in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1917.[iv] Public screening programs and the development of antibiotics after WWII finally meant the disease could be cured and its further spread prevented. A first-hand account of time in the St. John’s San, as it was known, gives a picture of treatment in the 1950s, for those who had treatment.[v] I expect most in my database, living and dying in isolated communities, had little or none.
[i] Canadian Public Health Association. History of Tuberculosis. https://www.cpha.ca/history-tuberculosis
[ii] Heritage Newfoundland &Labrador. History of Tuberculosis and Its Prevalence in Newfoundland. https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/tuberculosis-newfoundland.php
[iii] Brinston deaths at sea. https://astlemarilyn.wixsite.com/brinston-one-name/post/brinston-deaths-at-sea
[iv] Heritage Newfoundland & Labrador. Fighting Tuberculosis in Newfoundland and Labrador. https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/fighting-tuberculosis.php
[v] Judge, Roger. My Stay in the San. Downhome Magazine. Posted: Dec 16, 2015. http://www.downhomelife.com/article.php?id=1665