Dr. Ballard's interim report to the Local Government Board on an inquiry at Middlesbrough and its neighbourhood, as to an epidemic of so called "pneumonia", but which was infact a specific "pleuro-pneumonic fever" / [Edward Ballard].

  • Ballard, Edward, 1820-1897.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Ballard's interim report to the Local Government Board on an inquiry at Middlesbrough and its neighbourhood, as to an epidemic of so called "pneumonia", but which was infact a specific "pleuro-pneumonic fever" / [Edward Ballard]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The population of Middlesbrough in 1888, according to a careful estimate made by the medical officer of health, was about 69,255 persons; and the population of the other three sanitary districts (calculating 5|- persons to a house in each) was,—Ormesby, 8,662; Nor man by, 9,069 ; and Eston, 10,620. Taking these figures as approximately correct, the incidence of the fatal epidemic pneumonia on these districts was in deaths per 10,000 of population— Middlesbrough - - - - - 41 • 4 Ormesby- - - - - - 17*3 Normanby - - - - - - 41*2 Eston - - - - - - 30*1 The actual number of fatal cases occurring in each sex, and in each district is seen in the table on page 2. As regards the incidence of the recent “ pneumonia epidemic ” mortality upon persons of different sexes, it has to be recorded for the aggregate of the districts in question, that no less than 78 per cent, of the deaths were in males, and only 22 in females. In Middlesbrough itself, the males bore 81 per cent, of the pneumonia mortality, the females only 19. This is an excess upon males far more marked than in the customary fatal pneumonia of the kingdom generally. In 1881, for example, the relative incidence of deaths recorded under this name was 58 upon males, and 42 upon females for England and Wales ; and the relative incidence observed in Middles¬ brough (in 28 weeks covering the epidemic season of 1888) during eight years preceding 1888 had been 66 and 34 upon males and females respectively. Assuming the proportion of males and females of all ages in Middles¬ brough to be the same as in 1881 there were in the borough in 1888, 36,177 males and 33,078 females. The incidence then upon each sex was, on each 10,000 males 64, and on each 10,000 females 16. Whichever way considered, the exceptional incidence of the mortality on the male sex then was a remarkable feature of the epidemic.* Equally remarkable was its incidence upon aye. Distributing the popula¬ tion of the borough alone into age groups (and assuming the numbers in each group to bear to each other the same proportion as in 1881) we get the following results :— Middlesbrough, 24 Epidemic Weeks of 1888. Estimated Population in Age Groups, 1888. Deaths from “Pneumonia” in Age Groups. Rate for 24 weeks per 10,000 Living in Age Groups. Years. Years. Years. 0- 15- 45— 65 up. 0- 15 — 45- 65 up. 0- 15- 45- 65 up. 27,893 32,306 7,699 1,357 20 _ 117 115 33 7-2 36-2 149-4 243-2 For comparison I give the following figures Middlesbrough, Corresponding 24 Weeks during Eight Years, 1880-87. Census Population, 1881 in Age Groups. Deaths from “ Pneumonia ” during Eight Years in Age Groups. Annual mean Rate per 10,000 Living in Age Groups. Years. Years. Years. 0- 15- 45- 65 up. 0- 15 — 45- 65 up. 0- 15- 45- 65 up. 22,528 26,092 6,214 1,100 141 164 134 41 7-8 7-9 26-9 46-4 Annual Mean.f 17*6 | 20-5 16-7 5-1 * There are reasons however for suspecting that this exceptio7ial mortality among males may have been due partly or wholly to other causes than a peculiarity in the character of the epidemic. f When comparing these means of eight years’ deaths with those of 1388, allowance must of course be made for the growth of the population from 55,934 in 1881 to 69,255 in 1888. x 57256. 300.—3/89. Wt. 20170. E. & S. A 2