DISEASE
Smallpox: Dr William Close from Dalton introduced vaccination in 1799, surprisingly in this remote area, only three years after Jenner's original experiments. William Fleming, a nineteenth century diarist, wrote . . . Friday, March 15, 1816 - In spite of the Vaccine Inoculation from the Small Pox rages in Ulverston with deadly Violence and spreads fast among the Children there, but I do not hear of any being infected who have been cut for the Cow Pox. However, its Efficacy in preventing the Small Pox will most likely now be put to the Test and many doubts removed".
Cholera: Only 171 years ago Barrow villagers died of cholera from drinking polluted water and through lack of medical knowledge and unhygienic conditions. William Fisher records the following in his diary . . . Oct. Elizabeth, the wife of Nickles Fisher of Little Mill Stile began in the Cholera on the night of the 7 and died on the 8 her Grand Daughters residing with her begun on the 12 and died on the 13 Nicholas Fisher husband of the above Elizabeth Fisher begun on the 14 and died on the 15 a daughter took it a few days after but recovered again it threw the country into such an alarm it was thought necessary to prevent its further spreading to burn every article in the House and Clock alone was saved and it had the desired effect. I write this Decr 22 and there has not been another case the loss will be mad up by the Parish".