Further report and papers on epidemic influenza, 1889-92 / with an introduction by the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board.

  • Great Britain. Local Government Board.
Date:
1893
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Further report and papers on epidemic influenza, 1889-92 / with an introduction by the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

    30/204 (page 16)
    On the Influcnz:; Epidemics of 1889-90, 1891, and 1891-92; by Dr. Parsons. Influpnce of accompanying weather upon the fatality of Influenza epi- demics. It is no) iinproba])le that Home siicli cliango of nouienclaturc may have had a share in the increased number of deaths ascribed to Influenza in the later epidemics.'* In the first epidemic the deaths ascribed to Influenza were fewer in proportion to the excess in the mortality from diseases of the respira- tory organs than in the later ones as follows :— I. January 1890 II. May and June 1891. III. .January and February 1892. 1 Influenza to 4'75^ Excess of deaths from 1 Influenza to 2 • 1 | diseases of respiratory y organs above average 1 Influenza to 28 j cf corresponding weeks J in previous ten years. This explanation, however, will not account for the greater mortality from all causes and Irom diseases of the respiratory organs in the later epidemics than in the first one. The influence of weather upon the mortality has also to be considered. In my previous report I have shown evidence, which appears to me con- clusive, that the outbreak of an epidemic of Influenza is not the efliect of any particular kind of weather, but it is possible that the kind of weather accompanying the epidemic may have some influence upon its course and fatality. In 1890 a frost which had prevailed for the previous week broke up on January 3rd, shortly after the commencement of the epidemic, and the remainder of January was mild, with frequent S.W. gales and a considerable amount of sunshine for the time of year. These conditions, ordinarily in winter conducive to good health, may have rendered the epidemic milder than it would otherwise have been. On the other hand, if there had been no epidemic then, the mortality would under such weather conditions have probably been below the average, so that the increase due to the epidemic of January 1890 was probably greater than at first sight appears. In 1891, February was remarkable for being entirely without rain, though with frequent frosts and fogs in London. The first part of March was warm and pleasant, but on March 9th a gale and heavy snowstorm occurred, most severe in the S.W. of England. The remainder of March and April were fine and dry, but with a prevalence of cold easterly winds, which made the spring very backward. The first half of May was very fine and warm, with a dry air and easterly and northerly winds. On May 15th a very cold and wet period suddenly set in; the mean daily temperature at Greenwich, which on May 13th was 65 2° or 13*1° above the average fell on May 16th to 40*2°, or as much below the average, and on May 18th to only 39 •3'', or 14-8° below the average. This cold period lasted till May 30th. The week June 6th-12th was cold and dry, with N.E. winds; the remainder of the month was variable. It may be that the sudden change in the middle of May from fine dry and warm to cold and wet weather increased the fatality, and prolonged the duration of the Influenza * The following remarks taken from the annual report for 1891 of Mr. May, M.O.H. to the Aston Manor Urtiau District, to some extent bear out this idea :—'• In the Influenza epidemic of 1890 the medical practitioners recognised its presence, but did not acknowledge it in their certificates, ascribing the deaths to the chest complications which supervened upon it; but it has been acknowledged very fully this year (1891) as a primary cause of death, and there were 30 deaths certified as caused by Influenza (in 1890 there were only 3 so certified). The Influenza epidemic of 1889-90 was responsible for about 100 deaths in Aston Manor, and I estimate that the epidemic of the present year has been directly and indirectly responsible for 114 deaths, chiefly among aduHs and elderly persons.