View report page

68
Stridulus (spasm of glottis), 5 ; Disease of the Spinal Cord,
Paraplegia, Paralysis Agitans, 8 ; Other Diseases of Nervous
System, 29. convulsions as a cause of death is frequently
associated, in medical certificates, with definite diseases, and
with " teething." The convulsions being a symptom only,
such deaths are classified to the primary disease named, or
to dentition, as the case may be. Laryngismus Stridulus
(spasm of the glottis) included in the new classification with
diseases of the nervous system, is sometimes assigned as the
cause of the death of children " found dead in bed." In the
absence of other apparent cause of death, in such cases, the preexistence
of spasm of the glottis may have been inferred ; but
it is quite possible, to say the least of it, that the children had
been suffocated—a remark still more applicable to the deaths
attributed to convulsions, in the case of children found dead
in bed. The cause of death in such cases- whether spasm
of the glottis or convulsions be returned—can be only guessedat
when the child has not been seen to die ; for examination
after death cannot prove the occurrence of spasm during life,
and there is no pathological condition which would enable
one to say positively, that a child had suffered, still less that
it had died, from convulsions.
2. Diseases ok the Organs of Special Sense (eg.,
of Ear, Eye, Nose), are comprised in this Order. Five deaths
were registered from these causes.
3. Circulatory System.—The deaths due to diseases
of the organs of circulation, heart and blood vessels, were
219, against 220, 198, and 173, in the preceding three years
respectively: 150 were registered in the Town sub-district,
and 69 in Brompton. The quarterly numbers were 65, 58,46,
and 50. To specified forms of disease, 56 deaths were
ascribed, viz. Pericarditis, 5 ; Acute Endocarditis, 4 ; Valvular
Diseases of the Heart, 47. Aneurism was the cause of 8 deaths,