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.

    4/34 (page 4)
    Diarrhoea, Dysentery, and Cholera, Hooping Cough and Influenza, Diphtheria and Cynanche, etc., etc. ‘‘ Many diseases usually occurring in isolated or sporadic cases, and arranged as ‘local diseases’ or ‘diseases of particular organs,’ and ‘ constitutional diseases’, or ‘ diseases of uncertain seat,’ assume at times an epidemic character; such as ophthalmia and certain diseases of the skin, in workhouses, schools, prisons, etc.; infantile convulsions and tetanus in lying-in hospitals, etc.; erysipelas and pysemia in infirmaries; scurvy, ulcers, and boils in ships. “ Special endemic or indigenous diseases, peculiar and limited to certain districts or regions of countries, such as the goitre and cretinism of Alpine valleys; the pellagra of Lombardy and other districts of Italy, etc.; the leprosy of the West Indies, Spain, Norway, etc.; the beriberi of some parts of India—come strictly within the province of the Society’s inquiries. In answer to the third question, they are of opinion that,— considering the sentiments expressed by the principal ofldcers of the Medical Departments of the Army and of the Navy, and by other eminent members of the profession, and considering also the inconvenience of employing different systems of Classi- fication for the Kegistration of Deaths in the three great divi- sions of the Kingdom, as well as in some of our Colonies,—it is very desirable that the attention of the Government should be directed to the subject, in order that steps may be taken for its further investigation, in relation to the recording and tabulation of diseases in the public services, and to the regis- tration of the causes of death throughout the empire.