Report on the questions, submitted by Dr. Farr to the Council, concerning the classification of epidemic diseases / Epidemiological Society.

  • Epidemiological Society of London.
Date:
[1863]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the questions, submitted by Dr. Farr to the Council, concerning the classification of epidemic diseases / Epidemiological Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    21 XVIII. Tumours. Fibrous Osseous and cartilaginous Adipose Encysted Malignant XIX. Fractures, Dislocations, Wounds and Injuries. Fractures, Simple Compound Dislocations, Simple Compound Sprains Wounds, lacerated, and contused, incised, punctuated, poisoned Contusions Burns XX. Congenital Malformations. Club-foot Harelip Imperforate Anus V agina From Dr. Parkes, F.R.S., Member of the Medical Council of General Education’, Professor of Military Hygiene in the Army Medical School; Examiner in Medicine in the University of London. The propriety of “ retaining a special class of diseases, which shall include the epidemic, endemic, and contagious maladies, and others of an allied or congenerous nature,” will no doubt depend on the point of view from which it is regarded. There is evidently a natural connec- tion between many of these diseases, and in a nosological arrangement which aims at establishing a few grand and comprehensive classes, the epidemic and specific diseases must always form a separate order. But from another point of view, it must be concluded that the em- ployment of such a classification, in statistical returns, must be very restricted. One great object of statistical returns is to furnish such an identifica- tion of the diseases prevalent in any locality, as may lead to a determination of the causes, and may give an immediate clue to the measures which are necessary for prevention. In all cases, especially in the army and navy, this is one great use of statistical returns. But under the head of miasmatic, more under the head of zymotic, diseases, affections arising from the most different causes are included. The statement of the amount of the zymotic or miasmatic class of diseases among a community gives some but very imperfect information. It tells us very little, and that only in very general terms, of the morbific conditions among such a community. But if instead of such a general term, we state the proportion of the individual diseases, what a light is at once thrown on causes, and the requisite mode of preven- tion ! Whatever opinions we may hold as to the origin of the specific cause of typhoid fever, the statement of the existence of typhoid indicates that attention must be instantly directed to one point, viz.—the con- tamination of air and water by faecal matters. The statement of typhus existing shows us that there will almost certainly be overcrowding,