[en] Differential electron spectra were measured and calculated for 1 keV primary electrons which suffered multiple collisions in water vapour or carbon foils. The water vapour experiments were carried out with a movable, differentially pumped probe in a chamber at several 100 mTorr gas pressure. The spectra were measured at various radial and axial distances from the monodirectional, monoenergetic electron source, and at different angles with respect to the beam axis. The carbon foil measurements were carried out with the same experimental arrangement, however, in an evacuated chamber. From the spectra measured those at the surface but within the foil were deduced by taking into account the influence of the surface barrier potential, assuming that the surface is flat. The experimental data are compared with results from the electron transport code MOCA-7B. Generally good agreement was found