Report of Dr. Sidney Coupland on the outbreak of small-box in the Dewsbury Union in 1891-2.

  • Coupland, Sidney, 1849-1930.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of Dr. Sidney Coupland on the outbreak of small-box in the Dewsbury Union in 1891-2. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    34/250 (page 18)
    The appended table (XVI.j of mortality statistics shows that there is a continued decrease in the zymotic death-rate. Mr. J. W. Greenwood's remarks on this head, in the annual report aboved cited, are of interest:— Notwithstanding the severe scourge of influenza with which we had to contend, and which exercised a very bane- ful influence, largely augmented the death list, and leaving behind it serious after consequences, it is satisfactory to find that the total number of deaths from all causes is considerably below that of the previous year. The zymotic death-rate fell to a low point, being only 1-09, or almost half the average of England and Wales. Diarrhoea was entirely absent. Measles prevailed extensively during the second quarter of the year, but as a rule was of a mild type, and only occasioned two deaths. One-fourth of the deaths was due to disease of the respiratory organs ; pneumonia of a low and malignant character proving very fatal. The remaining urban sanitary districts of the Dewsbury Union in which small-pox occurred during the period covered by this inquiry are Birstal, Heckmondwike, Liversedge, Mirfield, Eavensthorpe, Soothill Nether, Soothill Upper, and Thornhill. Each of these is administered by a local board, and in none of them was there any special isolation hospital established. Birstal. The population of Birstal in 1891 was ■6,528—a falling ofE of 240 persons since the previous census. The Medical Officer of Health is R. Forsyth, M.D., and the sanitary inspector, Mr. J. Blackburn. Notification of infectious disease came into operation on March 1st, 1892. Some of the cases of small-pox were treated in their own homes, others sent to the Batley Hospital, which is .situated close to the boundary of Birstal. The usual methods of disinfection of the houses inhabited by cases of small-pox were carried out, the bedding of the patient being removed and destroyed, and renewed at the .expense of the Local Board. Re-vaccination was performed by Dr. Forsyth on members of infected houses, calf-lymph being usually preferred. I append the returns of public vaccination in this district in 1891, and the first few months of 1892; and also the mortality statistics for the 18 years, 1875-92 (Tables XVIII. and XIX.):— Table XVII, Dewsbury Union. Biretal Distridt. Rkturn as to Number of Vaccinations from 1st January 1891 to 30th April 1892, inclusive. Month. Primary Vaccinations. Eevac- cinations. Under One Year. Between One and Two Years. Two Years and upwards. ^AU 1831.—January — February - - - - March - 10 April - 9 - May ■12 1 1 June - 4S> 1 3 July 22 4 August - 7 3 1 September 27 2 October 13 2 1 November 23 3 1 December 10 1892.—January 2 2 7 February 13 1 1 March - 14 April - 8 1 Totals 210 13 14 S Table XVHI. Mortality Statistics for the Urban Sanitary District of Birstal, 1875-92, Estimated Population, Total Deaths, Fever. Small- pox. Scarlet Fever. Diph- theria. Measles. Diarrhcea and Dy- sentery. all Causes. Tpyhus. Enteric. 6,944 136 5 ? ? 2-3 V 3 7 6,566 167 3 16 2 3 6,638 155 6 5 1 2 8 6,710 159 1 2 7 6,766(0) 120 1 4 1 2 6,736 143 5 1 6 1 2 6,683 149 0-2 3-8 0 2 6 0-6 2-6 2-4 6,712 165 6 2 1 6,688 150 4 1 10 2 1 12 6,654- 146 1 2 3 1 6,631 138 ] 6 1 6,607 146 2 1 7 6,658 149 1-2 0 2 4-8 1-4 2-2 3 6,593 120 4 6,569 140 1 4 6,545 118 1 3 i 6,528(c) 169 2 5 1 6,498 117 1 * 7 1 6,546 133 0-6 0-4 0-8 3-8 0-6 Mean 1875-77 J 878 1879 1880 -1881 1882 Mean 1878-82 7883 1884 1885 1886 1887 Mean 1883-87 1888 - 1889 - 1890 - 1891 - ^892 - Mean 1888-92