The causes of death among the assured in the Scottish Widow's Fund and Life Assurance Society from 1874 to 1894 inclusive / [Claud Muirhead].

Muirhead, Claud.

Date:: 1902

Credit: The causes of death among the assured in the Scottish Widow's Fund and Life Assurance Society from 1874 to 1894 inclusive / [Claud Muirhead]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$1881-87.—Twenty-seven claims arose from this cause. 'J’hree cases were due to Rheumatism; in two the spinal menihranes were involved; two were the result of accident (one from a fall, the other from the kick of a horse); and other two were complicated with Gout. 1888-94..—this acute affection twenty-one members died, at the average age of 46. In two cases an e.xtra charge was made when the deceased joined the Society, for the existence of Gout. In one case the ]\leningitis was complicated with Influenza, and in another the disease was conscfiuent to Otitis. Regarding the others, no particulars are forthcoming. In only one of the twenty-one cases was the e.xpectation of life fulfilled. Neuritis. 1881-87.—One case was returned under this heading. The member was a surgeon, and the disease was said to have lasted over five years, lie was 46 years of age when he died. 1888-04.—Two members died from this disease, aged respectively 40 and 55. In one of the cases there existed Heart complications. Paralysis. By this term is understood the loss of power over some part of the body. As may be gathered from this definition, Raralysis is to be regarded merely as a symptoni of some grave disease. 1874--80.—Thirty-one deaths are recorded under this heading. One of these was due to Paralysis Agitans; the member died at the age of 76, having exceeded his expectation of life by upwards of 2 years. Another case was caused by Embolism, probably due to Heart Disease. 1881-87.—Under this heading are recorded thirty-seven deaths. One was a case of Paralysis Agitans, which occurred in a Scotch artist, who, after an illness of upwards of a year, died at the age of 62. Another Scotchman died at the age of 66, of what was apparently Bulbar Paralysis, a disease of some rarity, and characterised by paralysis of the lips, tongue, and larynx. It is a slowly progressive disease in general, but sometimes it is rapidly acute, as in the case of our member, in whom the disease only endured for about two months; three died of Paralysis which was apparently Embolic, due to Heart Disease. Another case was complicated with Epilepsy. 1888-94-—f^nly five deaths are recorded under this title, as against sixty- eight in the two preceding Septennia combined. It is not to be assumed from this fact that the number of cases of Palsy is very much less than formerly, but merely that they are more correctly registered under the disease which gave rise to the Paralysis, and of which it is a leading symptom. The average age at death of these five was 64; and two exceeded their expectation by 5 and 2 years respectively. 3$