On the causes of death in the Scottish Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society : from 1st January 1860 to 31st December 1866 / by James Begbie.

Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the causes of death in the Scottish Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society : from 1st January 1860 to 31st December 1866 / by James Begbie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    from all other causes, and the percentage of death at the succes- sive ages :— Ago at Death. From all Causes. From Apoplexy, Palsy, and Disease of Brain. Ratio per cent. Between 20 and 30, 41 4 9.76 „ 30 „ 40 139 17 12.23 „ 40 „ 50, 241 48 19.92 „. 50 „ 00, 350 66 18.86 ,, 60 „ 70, 338 78 23.os Above 70 289 66 22. S4 Total 139S 279 19.95 Of the deaths through Apoplexy and Palsy, it was known, before accepting the risk, that twelve members exhibited a predisposition to these atfections, that five were subject to Gout, and two to Rheu- matism. In three the fatal illness was associated with Heart affection, and in two preceded by Cerebral Disease. In regard to the influence of the professions, trades, or occupations followed by the subjects of these cerebral affections, in giving any proclivity to the fatal disease, it may be stated that these extended over a great variety, but that no one appeared to have given a decided predis- position beyond another. The Church, the Law, and the Medical along with the Mercantile profession, Avere fully represented. No peculiar conformation of body is noticed in the applicants as giving evidence of a tendency to cerebral lesion. In like manner, as regards those avIio became claims in consequence of chronic Disease of the Brain, no well-marked predisposition is noticed, though, in a few instances, the circumstance of a near relative having been affected \Arith Insanity and confined in an asylum, is referred to. The deaths from Delirium Tremens in number bear the same relation to the general mortality as they did in former investiga- tions • but there are good grounds for believing that concealment of the real cause of death in this, as in the case of Cancer, is Largely practised; and that under the name of Cephalitis, Brain Fever, Gastric Fever, or such like, those interested in the memory of the unhappy Adctims of intemperance contrive to hide their shame. Of the eleven avIio died under the true name of Delirium Tremens, the average expectation of life was 32 years G months.