[Report 1885] / Medical Officer of Health, Birmingham.

  • Birmingham (England). Council.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1885] / Medical Officer of Health, Birmingham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total Total Total Total Distribution of Quar. Quar. Quar. Quar. 1885. 1884. 1883. 1882. Deaths among Under 1 year of age ... 566 556 634 497 2,253 2,611 2,338 2 452 the setal periods Between 1 and 5 years 378 291 235 251 1.155 1,704 1.480 1527 {Continued). ^ }} 20 „ 108 134 114 121 477 578 688 ’596 „ 20 „ 40 „ 284 284 220 265 1,053 1,081 1,115 1,028 „ 40 „ 60 „ 467 403 313 327 1,510 1,472 1,389 1,363 At 60 years and upwards 517 425 312 454 1,708 1,597 1,704 1,459 A marked contrast is observable in the relative distribution of the figures among the several periods of life during the last two years. In 1884 the most conspicuous feature was the unusually high proportion of deaths under one year of age, and to a less extent in children between one and five years of age ; in that year, too, there were fewer deaths than usual in persons above GOyearsof age. This year’sfigures show, however, a return to the more natural and usual order of distribution generally found to exist at the several periods of life, the most uncommon feature being the exceptionally few deaths in children whose ages ranged between one and five years. This strikingly small mortality amongst children of these ages, as compared with previous years, is the result mainly of the comparatively low mortality from Measles, Whooping-Cough, and Scarlet Fever, which are essentially diseases of childhood ; the small amount of Diarrhoeal mortality has also contributed to bring about not only this result, but also the smaller number of deaths than in other years in the table in infants under one year of age. The Deaths in persons between 5 and 20 years of age also show a very distinct reduction on those of recent years, and in persons between 20 and 40 years of age a slight decline on the previous year. The Deaths in people over 40 years of age have, however, been decidedly more numerous than usual, though this is not to be wondered at when the trying character of the weather at the beginning and end of the year is taken into account. I have compared the figures on pages 38-40 with those of the previous year, and find, however, that only a comparatively small proportion of last year’s excessive mortality in persons above 60 years of age is attributed to Bronchial affections, as the Deaths of no fewer than 104 more old people than in the previous year are set down under the indefinite term of “ Old Age.” Such an exceptional increase could not be brought about by any variation which is liable to arise from accidental causes, and there can be no doubt that any marked loss of vitality which may have contributed to produce the Deaths of so many old people must have been induced by atmospheric conditions. The average Age at Death during each quarter of this and Average age at the previous year is as follows 1884. First Quarter . . 27 years and 7 months. 30 Second „ 26 » 9 » 29 Third „ 20 }> ^ n 25 Fourth „ 27 „ 3 „ 30 Whole Year 25 » 6 „ 29 1886. md 7 4 5 9 2