Report on alcohol and longevity / by E. MacDowel Cosgrave.

  • Cosgrave, E. MacDowel (Ephraim MacDowel)
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on alcohol and longevity / by E. MacDowel Cosgrave. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/20 (page 5)
    table it will be seen that the rate of mortality is frightfully high, and unequalled by the results of any other series of observations made on any class of population of this country. Sanitary agitators have frequently excited alarms about the wholesale havoc in human life going on in the badly conditioned districts of some of our large cities; but no collection of facts ever brought under attention has shown so appalling a waste of life as is exhibited by the above results.” Mr. Neison contrasts the death-rate of the intemperate with the general death-rate (which, of course, includes the intemperate, and must be raised by them above the death-rate of the temperate). Equation of Life, being the period of years of which there is an equal chance of living. Ages General Popula¬ tion of England and Wales Persons of Intemperate Habits 20 44-212 15557, being 35 per cent. 30 36-482 13-800 „ 38 „ | Of the duration of 40 28-790 16-627 „ 40 ) life in the 50 21*255 10-860 „ 51 „ | General Population. 60 14-285 8-947 „ 63 The above Table shows how fearfully the expectation of life is lessened at all ages by the contraction of intemperate habits. Dividing the cards into “Occupation Groups,” Mr. Neison found :— The average Duration of Life, after the Commencement of Intemperate Habits, Among Mechanics, Working, and Labouring Men . . 18 years. Among Traders, Dealers, and Merchants . . . .17 Among Professional Men and Gentlemen . . . .15 Among Females ........ 14 INQUESTS AND INTEMPERANCE. Coroners, from the nature of their work, have long recognised alcohol as a frequent direct cause of death, but they have also recognised its indirect action—for instance, so early as 1759, Mr. Corbyn Morris stated that as a consequence of the very general use of ardent spirits there was “ a loss of 80,000 infants in the course of 20 years—a mortality unequalled in the annals of human misery and woe.” a a Observations on Bills of Mortality in London, 1759. By Corbyn Morris.