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52 Ancestors in 52 weeks: Week 5. In the kitchen

 DENNIS EDWARD JAY. 1928-1930

When I read this weeks title, I was a little daunted, much as I racked my brains I could not recall a cook, chef or kitchen maid in the family. I then thought about a recipe that passed down the family... all I could think of was 'Auntie Win's' recipe for Bread Pudding, which we still make today. But then I recalled that Auntie Win was not actually an ancestor but the wife of my Grandad's friend. Then I recalled this sad story and thought it would just about fit to the title: In the kitchen.

Dennis was the 2nd son of Hubert and Dorothy Jay nee Perry, born 11th Jan 1928 but sadly died on 25th November 1930.

 
Family photo shared by NR and SS. with thanks.

Sadly this poor little boy died in Ealing hospital, from shock following an accident in the kitchen, whereby he was scalded when he accidently upset a saucepan of boiling water at the age of 2 years 10 months. 

crown copyright

A little about Burn injury treatment in the 1930's: 

Burn injuries continue to be amongst the most devastating of injuries, impacting on the patients physical and mental wellbeing. Whilst many new treatments have been developed and discovered post WW2, Dennis’ injuries were sustained in the 1930’s and therefore treatments and positive outcomes were far less available and common.

From the 18th century there was an increase in biomedical research and recognition of the surface area and depth of the burn. In the early 18th century, the French surgeon Boyer, introduced this three-degree classification of burns.

  • First degree: Erythema.
  • Second degree: Blistering of the skin leading to superficial ulceration.
  • Third degree: Tissue disorganization leading to a dry yellow crust.

However, this did not help improve the survival of patients and many died of shock, as was the case for Dennis, and infection until more recent history, where understanding of burns has dramatically improved.

With the advancement of resuscitation methods in burn patients, deaths due to shock are now uncommon but despite the development of antibiotics, sepsis continues to be the most common cause of death in burn victims.

But for Dennis despite the discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, the availability of these antibiotics were not available in any large supply until WW2. So, the treatment that Dennis received was likely to have been a topical therapy to prevent the release of ‘toxins’ from the wound and to dry it out. In 1925 Davidson described a tannic acid spray, which was believed to produce a cleaner wound, however this was discontinued when it was found to be hepatotoxic.

Sodium Hypochlorite was also used in a synthesize form developed by Dr Henry Dakin, removing its irritating contaminants, and used as an antiseptic solution.

Sadly for Dennis he did not survive his injuries, but we can hope that he did not suffer too greatly.

from: History of burns: The past, present and the future

Kwang Chear Lee, Kavita Joory & Naiem S. Moiemen



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