Gaol Fever Typhoid, enteric, swine... The sanitary conditions in prison contributed to spread of disease. Typhoid fever was common amongst outbreak in gaols, although reports of swine fever from contaminated pig carcasses also occurred.
Contaminated water from crude plumbing and sewers caused problems both in and out of the prison. In 1891, Alderman Knights at Bathurst demonstrated the putrid nature of the water flowing out of the gaol into a nearby creek by bottling a sample and having colleagues smell the contents at their meeting.
Modern day gaols continue to suffer outbreaks such as measles and influenza, and vaccination remains a key public health measure.
Caring for the Incarcerated Exhibition Guide
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