Annual report for 1848.

  • Royal Infirmary (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report for 1848. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    diminution of 239. This result must be gratifying to every one. It would be taking, however, a very limited, if not a very unjust, view of the blessing of a healthy season to the labouring man in comparison with an unhealthy one, if he hirr- self was alone considered. The suffering aud privations which his family endure are frequently very great. Debt is too often contracted, poverty and want generally follow, and the once happy and contented family of the industrious labourer, is obliged either to the hand of private benevolence, or compelled to apply to the public funds for the bare necessaries of life. Along with diminished numbers there, however, has not been a lower rate of mortality. In 1844, the rate of mortality was 6.01, there having been 1297 cases treated to a termina¬ tion, and 78 deaths; and during the past year, 1035 cases, and 69 deaths, being 6.66. If reference be made to the table of diseases, which have proved fatal, (No 3.) it will be observed that, with the exception of three, their were few deaths from any particular malady. These three were Bronchitis, Disease of the Heart, and Consumption. From the first there were five, from the second eight, and from the last thirteen deaths. During the past year, there have been very few cases of Fever. There were treated in the House 65, and by the District Surgeons, 7 cases, in all 72, of these 4 died, being 5.5 per cent. The class of diseases which have prevailed most, were those which affect the chest, such as Bronchitis, Disease of the Heart, and Consumption. Of the first, there were, of acute and chronic 81 ; of the second 23 ; of the last, 16 cases. 4 he Diseases which effect the Stomach and Bowels were the next most frequent, such as Constipation, Diarrhoea, Dyspepsia, Dysentery, and of which there were, altogether, 99 ; of com¬ mon Catarrh there were 63 ; of Itch 41, (but admitted for other complaints), of Rheumatism 44, and of Measles 39 cases.