[Report 1918] / Medical Officer of Health, Bacup Borough.

Bacup (England). Borough Council.

Date:: 1918

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1918] / Medical Officer of Health, Bacup Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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RKSIMRATORY DISEASES Which include Bronchitis, Pneumonia, and other Dis- eases of Respiratory Organs except Tuberculosis, caused 103 deaths at 5'35 per 1000 death-rate of population, instead of between 3 and 4 per 1000 in most years. Infectious Diseases and Influenza account for this increase. I can only find one worse year, viz. 1891, T'ad per 1000, (1892 being 5'33 per 1000), both of which were Inlluenza epidemic years. The Influenza deaths in those years were not separated out but mostly grouped under Respiratory Diseases, and had the same been done for 1918 the rate would be 7'43 per 1000, including those residents who died away from home. Pre- vention of Respiratory Diseases is discussed under Influenza. Adenoids, enlarged tonsils, breathing with mouth open, and defective teeth make children, as well as adults, much more liable to Respiratory Diseases and Influenza. I con- sider that to some extent there is a greater risk in a town like ours compared with neighbouring towns much nearer the sea level, for in a mountainous town practically as regards this country, more food, especially fats, and warmer clothing are required to keep up the body temperature, also owing to cold atmosphere, if a room is to be warm and ventilated properly, more fuel is required. Without good ventilation and sufficient fuel the great danger in the district is a vitiated atmosphere, the strongest predisposing cause of Respiratory Diseases. Deaths in the Borough, grouped according to age. ,T , ] and 2 and 5 and 15 and 25 and 45 and 65 and under under under under under up- 1 year j years 5 years 15 years 25 years 45 years 65 years wards Influenza—37 — — o i> 0 in 10 3 Bronchitis-4() 1 3 (Primary) 3. 2 1 11 23 Pn’monia-lf) 1 5 (Primary) 0 fi 0 s 10 4