[Report 1898] / Medical Officer of Health, Darwen Borough.

  • Darwen (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1898] / Medical Officer of Health, Darwen Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    80/164 (page 50)
    age, still, the probability is that a large number of women, on reaching old age, leave the weaving shop tO! stay at home to doi the house work, and to* look after the children of the younger mothers. The wide range of diseases which proved fatal amongst the Weaving class does not give much clue as to the influence of occupation. I can quite believe that the im- proved ventilation of the Sheds, and the stricter supervision, has reduced the death-rate. Acute diseases, as Rheumatism, Bright’s Disease, Pneumonia, Typhoid Fever, etc., do not appear to preponderate. There were 6 deaths from Typhoid Fever, 2 of these being Weavers. The other acute diseases may be looked upon as inseparable from work in a heated place, and the sudden change consequent on leaving work. COTTON WINDER.—There were 12 deaths during the year. Consumption was responsible for 2, and Puerperal Fever for 2, the remainder of deaths do not' point to any special connection with the occupation. OVERLOOKER.—There were 3 deaths. Heart Disease was the cause of 1. This seems to prevail among mill workers, as a Drawer-in, a Warper, and a Warehouse hand suffered from the same complaint; whether this is the result of previous attacks of acute Rheumatism or not I cannot say. COTTON SPINNERS.—There were eight deaths of persons following this occu- pation. The list of causes does not throw much light on the influence of occupation. One ROLLER COVERER died from Inflammation of the Stomach and Bowels ; and one COTTON CARDER died from Influenza. DANGEROUS TRADES. COAL MINERS, according to the Return of Deaths, suffer from Rheumatic Fever, Heart Disease, Consumption, Bronchitis, and of course are particularly liable to Accidents; four of the five deaths were all at the working age, which means a serious loss toi the respective families; the same with QUARRYMEN.—Two out of the three died of Diseases of the Chest and the other from a Diseased Liver. 5°