Epidemic diptheria; a research on the origin and spread of the disease from an international standpoint.

  • Arthur Newsholme
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Epidemic diptheria; a research on the origin and spread of the disease from an international standpoint. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    for which years the records are defective). Prom 1866 the rainfall was excessive until 1869-71, when it was average in amount, -10, and +4 per cent, respectively. From 1881 onwards it was below the mean line in every year for which records exist, but there are no great epidemic peaks, though evidence of excessive prevalence appears in 1882, in 1886-88, and in 1895. Diphtheria varies comparatively little in amount from year to year in Glasgow, being constantly endemic on a fairly large scale, and climatic conditions appear to play a minor part in its production and continued prevalence. The comparison of Edinburgh with Glasgow is interest- ing. The former in the fifteen years, 1866-80, had a mean annual rainfall of 2832, the latter in the same period of 43-08 inches. During these years Edinburgh had an epidemic peak in 1871, which was the third year in succession of sub-normal rainfall. Glasgow had three years of normal and sub-normal rainfall, 1869-71, and a small peak was reached in 1872. The epidemics of diphtheria are of much greater magnitude in Edinburgh than in Glasgow, but the amount endemically present is greater m the latter than in the former city. In Christians the relationship between deficient rain- fall and excessive diphtheria is very evident In 1869-70-71 the rainfall was low, and the records show very little excess of diphtheria. In 1875-76 the rainfall was again deficient, without excess of diphtheria From 1884-1889 inclusive the yearly rainfall was low, and coincident with this, Christiania had the greatest epi- demic of diphtheria from which it has ever suffered. On the other hand, the epidemic maximum in 1862 coincided with a year of rather heavy rainfall, following on two previou earg Qf excessiye ra.nfa]i_ ^ statistical record for the years 1851-59, in which the