On the influenza, or epidemic catarrhal fever of 1847-8 / By Thomas Bevill Peacock.

  • Thomas Bevill Peacock
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the influenza, or epidemic catarrhal fever of 1847-8 / By Thomas Bevill Peacock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    AGE. Cases. Deaths. MALES. FEMALES. Cases. Deaths. Cases. Deatlis. 11 and 14 2 1 1 -■ 15 to 20 12 3 7 1 5 2 20 to 30 14 1 3 — 11 1 30 to 40 10 1 7 — 3 1 40 to 50 3 2 2 1 1 1 50 to 60 4 ] 3 1 1 — 60 to 70 3 1 1 — 2 1 48 9 24 3 24 6 The remark made in reference to the respective frequency of the two forms of the disease, applies equally to its fatality. Though from the very general prevalence of the disease, the mortality in the whole population was very greatly increased, yet, there can be no doubt that the proportion of deaths rela- tive to the number of cases which occurred, was far from large. The facts here collected do not, it is true, appear to counte- nance this assertion, one-fifth nearly of the cases admitted into the hospital having proved fatal. It must, however, be remembered that the persons under treatment, were either such as presented the disease in its most severe form, or who were in a state of entire destitution before their reception, and, consequently, that no inference as to the ordinary mortality of the epidemic, can be deduced from the result of the disease under such circumstances. The cases are, also, too few to form a satisfactory basis for generalisation, and a reference to the preceding statements will show, that all those which proved fatal, were either complicated by organic disease, or by the presence of other serious affections. The facts can, indeed, only be regarded as showing the very unfavourable result of the disease when it attacks those previously in unsound health, or who have long been suffering from depressing causes. On