Z506/3/14/16

Letter from John Field to father, John Perring Field.

21 Mar 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

For months have had sick house. Emily, junior, Ella, Louise and John have had scarlet fever, 'little Louie we have lost', Emily had it favourably although she will lose her hair. Ella is still suffering from effects and is thin and puny. John appears to be in a decline. Vomited blood four months ago, and two months since caught the fever. He has lost his right lung. Will never be as strong as he was. Was in hospital but is now an outpatient and taking cod liver oil. Emily, senior, is an outpatient at the hospital – system seems out of order, heart and liver are affected. He himself has been ill and unable to work – something wrong with the liver. Business continues tolerably good but has been unfortunate with customers, several of them going insolvent. Has been at Geelong – will be wonderful if Marianne's family escapes the scarlet fever. Ella and Charley are affected in their eyes and both are obliged to wear glasses. Business here is very unsettled owing to Parliamentary disputes. Protectionists, having lost power, are bitter and obstructive. Nightly altercations are of Billingsgate type – one burly Irishman has just been released from durance for un-Parliamentary conduct

item

Field, John,
Field, John Perring,
Field, Emily,
Field, Ella,
Field, Louisa,
Martell, Marianne,
Martell, Charles

family correspondence, scarlet fever