Mr. Spear's report to the Local Government Board upon the fatality from "croup", and other throat affections, in the Horwich regestration sub-district / [John Spear].

  • Spear, John.
Date:
[1889]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. Spear's report to the Local Government Board upon the fatality from "croup", and other throat affections, in the Horwich regestration sub-district / [John Spear]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ a cold.” At this time headache, sometimes pains in the back and limbs,, slight sore, throat and lassitude are chiefly spoken of. In a considerable proportion of cases swelling of the lymphatic glands or infiltration of the soft part's around the neck and throat externally was visible during the later stage of the illness, and in a few cases during the premonitory stage. Rapid discolouration of the skin of the throat and neck after death was several times remarked; but beyond this no post-mortem observation had been made. Upon the premonitory malaise spoken of above a condition of asthenia supervened, asphyxia then rapidly developing and proving fatal. In 34 of the 38 fatal cases of croup, tracheitis, and laryngitis, registered as occurring during the last 2J years (i.esince the increased fatality is recorded), the duration of the illness, dating from first sign of indisposition, was stated as follows:—One day, 1; two days, 7 ; three days, 9; four days, 5 ; five days, 2; seven days, 4 ; nine or ten days, 2: in two cases the child had been ailing for two weeks and in two for three weeks before the fatal termination. Some 80 per cent, received medical treatment only within the last 24 hours, and many of these were seen only just before death. The disease, in fact, excited, as a rule, little attention until just before the end. The record of such non-fatal cases of this illness as were reported afforded little assistance in an inquiry as to the exact nature of the disease. There were, indeed, few such cases; and these rarely in the same neighbourhood or apparently associated with the fatal attacks. In some half-dozen the history was that of diphtheria, but on the whole the testimony available from this source suggested that under the name of croup or tracheitis diseases of different etiology had been included, and the same observation applies to attacks ascribed to “ laryngitis.” Referring again to the fatal cases, those that have occurred within the last 2J years may be classified according to the age of the sufferers as follows : I have included in one column those ascribed to “ croup,” “ tracheitis,” and “ laryngitis ” (regarding them as a whole as from ill-defined causes); the deaths specifically referred by the medical certificate to diphtheria are included in the lower column of the table. Deaths registered from Total. Under 1. 1-3. 3-5. 5-7. 14 years. Above 14 years. Croup, tracheitis, and] laryn¬ gitis. 38 1 20 13 3 1 — Diphtheria - 6 — 2 2 — “ { 1, 17 years 1, 34 years The distribution of these fatal cases, as to time and place, is shown in the subjoined table :— District. Period. Disease. % Total. January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. j November. ] o eO g c* o <s> A /■ r Croup, laryngitis, 1 ___ —- _ __ 1 1887 m) &c. L Diphtheria — — — — — — — — — — — — [ f Croup, Ac. 10 2 1 1 — 1 — — 2 2 1 Horwich U.S. . - .J 1S8S *r\ Diphtheria 1 1 —- — — — — — — — — — 1st Qr. ( Croup, &c. 1 1 — — 1889. Diphtheria — — — — f Croup. &c. 12 2 1 1 — — — — -- ■i i 2_ 1 1887 4 l Diphtheria — — —T — — — — — — — — — — * ( Croup, &c. 11 i — 3 1 — — — 2 — 2 i 1 Westhoaghton T1.8.D. - 1888 4 c Diphtheria 3 — — — — — —1 i i — — 1 1st Qr. f Croup, &c. 1 — — 1 1889 l Diphtheria 2 i l — *Lostoclf parish - - - 1888 - Croup • - 2 — — — — — — l — — — i — ( r Croup, tracheitis. 38 0 2 6 1 1 l o 0 5 5 3 Whole district - - .; 2} years ) laryngitis. * ( 1 ( Diphtheria 0 2 1 — — — — — i 1 — 1 1 i Total - 44, 8 3 6 1 1 — l 3 7 5 5 4 * No death was registered from diphtheria in this part of the district, nor any from croup or laryngitis during 1837 or the first quarter of 1889. 22502882119