Finding out if there was an epidemic??

[barbz]

Thanks to all your help in locating g-g-grandfather and g-g-grandmother John and Mary Green in Rothwell, Northants, I went last week to visit Rothwell. It's such a beautiful town, by the way! I found their graves in the Holy Trinity churchyard, and saw on John's that he was buried with 6 of his children who died in infancy. Do you think there could have been an epidemic going through the country at his time of death (21 Oct 1838), I was curious as to why all 7 were burried together. Any ideas?

[Davran]

You could try writing to the county archives. My own ggrandfather died of typhus in Sunderland in 1893 and, like you, I was curious to find out if there was an epidemic, so wrote to either the archives or the library (can't remember offhand which it was) and they were only too happy to supply the information. Do you have your ancestor's death certificate? That will tell you what he died of.

[Mutley]

Number of Deaths from Disease in 1838 (1st figure) and 1839 (2nd figure)

Typhus 24,577, 25,991
Smallpox 16,268, 9,131
Measles 6,514, 10,937
Whooping Cough 9,107, 8,165
Consumption 59,025, 59,559
Pneumonia 17,999, 18,151

www.
spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/DISsmallpox.htm

I believe Smallpox was classed as an epidemic in 1838 but some of the other figures are higher.

[barbz]

Unfortunately the Library and the Heritage Centre were both closed the day we went, but will try and either make another trip or contact them by phone/email. Oh course I forgot the most obvious...the death certificate! Will try and get hold of a copy, thanks Davran. Hoping to get down your part of the country eventually as most of another line of the family are buried in St Leonard's churchyard in Deal!

[barbz]

Number of Deaths from Disease in 1838 (1st figure) and 1839 (2nd figure)

Typhus 24,577, 25,991
Smallpox 16,268, 9,131
Measles 6,514, 10,937
Whooping Cough 9,107, 8,165
Consumption 59,025, 59,559
Pneumonia 17,999, 18,151

www.
spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/DISsmallpox.htm

I believe Smallpox was classed as an epidemic in 1838 but some of the other figures are higher.

Its hard to imagine all those deaths from disease...makes me glad we have all our immunizations now. Thanks for that Mutley. I think it must have been the reason for the deaths, but will try and get hold of his death certificate to see.
How is life in the Algave? My sister has lived out there for about 30+ years now, Lagoa area, the most beautiful beaches I remember :)

[Adnepos_Iacobi]

Had a check of the 2007 England and Wales mortality in those aged over 28 days:

All deaths about 500,000 of which

Typhus 0
Smallpox 0
Measles 1
Whooping cough 4
Tuberculosis about 300
Pneumonia about 30,000

Note deaths from
C diff about 4,000
HIV about 250

[Mutley]

That is very interesting, vaccinations and decent water have obviously got rid of the first four, Typhus, Smallpox, Measles and Whooping Cough.
TB, well I suppose that there are older people with lung problems, asbestos, miners, smokers and so on.
Pneumonia, I presume the young and the old, I know it is still a killer here in Portugal with the damp homes.

But where was Cancer back then, what would have been the diagnosis?



How is life in the Algarve? My sister has lived out there for about 30+ years now, Lagoa area, the most beautiful beaches I remember P.S. Life is good, Lagoa is quite a way from me, I'm in the mountains, further east. But the beaches all along the coast are indeed, beautiful. ;)