Cousin Prudence by Waldock Sarah

Author:Waldock, Sarah [Waldock, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: dpgroup.org, Fluffer Nutter
Amazon: B00CH33ZDC
Published: 2013-04-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

With his younger daughter at home, Mr Woodhouse rallied somewhat; though Emma made sure to consult Mr Perry, his physician.

“Mr Woodhouse is in no immediate danger, Mrs Knightley,” said Mr Perry, “though if I were you I should stop sending your laundry to the Fellowes woman; her oldest daughter is displaying every sign of typhus and there is every indication that the outbreak might become severe. I am told that she has a high fever, cough, pains in the joints and limbs and cries in the light and complains of headache; and has a rash. It is a classic case; and I would not wish your father to take it, as he has already a very nasty cough. And no, I do not believe for one minute that his cough is anything but an old man’s reaction to this nasty fog,” he added hastily, “but his health has a degree of frailty; his heart is not so strong as it was and I wish you to take every precaution. Mr Knightley should wash thoroughly if he has been speaking with any of his tenants. And you, Mrs Knightley,” he said glancing at her, “are perhaps also in a situation where you should be careful also.”

Emma blushed.

“Indeed I am in an interesting condition,” she murmured, “but I have had no significant problems.”

“Nonetheless I should like to see you sitting with your feet up for at least an hour every afternoon!” said Mr Perry “You cannot be too careful!”

Prudence stopped Mr Perry on his way out.

“I heard something of what you have said to dear Emma,” she said, “and I will cover the costs of treating the Fellowes girl. If it were not for Emma’s condition and Uncle Henry’s ill health I should go to her myself but I cannot afford to bring the disease to this house.”

“Indeed no, Miss Blenkinsop; that would be foolish,” said Mr Perry.

“Is this caused by the cold, Mr Perry?” asked Prudence “I have heard that disease is accompanying the famine and cold; and did not Napoleon lose much of his army to the same sickness in Russia?”

“To the cold? Not directly, Miss Blenkinsop,” said Mr Perry, “I have noted that Typhus occurs in the unwashed of the population; therefore it may be partially due to an unwillingness to wash thoroughly because of the difficulty of getting warm again subsequently when the weather is cold. Nobody knows by what agency the disease passes; but that it also goes under the name of gaol fever it may be surmised that living in cramped conditions with little facility for hygiene causes the disease to pass by proximity and to remain if there is not thorough washing. I should not think that it would pass on the well boiled clothing that Mrs Fellowes passes off as laundry; but if the washing is carried subsequently by a diseased member of her family,” he shrugged, “it is not worth the risk. I am not surprised to find the Fellowes family struck

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