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(22)
FOG DEATHS
The four days of fog referred to in my introduction, had its aftermath.
During the two weeks ending December 20th which followed the fog,
120 deaths of Fulham residents were notified. The average for the
corresponding period in 1950 and 1951 was 78.
Enquiries by letter from hospital physicians, general practitioners
and the coroner (11 instances) showed that 47 of the above 120 deaths
might be considered as attributable to fog in a greater or lesser degree.
In order to discover factors which might predispose susceptibility,
home enquiries were made in respect of the above 47 cases. No contact
could, however, be made in three of these. Of the remaining 44 it seemed
unlikely in 4 cases that the fog was more than coincidental with the deaths.
The general picture of the 44 investigated cases may be summarised
broadly as follows:-
(1) Well enough to be "up and about", although activity
times limited 30
(2) Those going out to work or doing housework at home etc 14
(3) Those considered in good or very fair health 13
Note: All those at work were not necessarily in good health. A
number of retired or old persons could on the other hand
be so considered in relation to their age.
(4) Confined to one room, either because of old age or on
account of chronic illness 14.
(5) Of the latter regarded by the family as "going downhill"
(includes the 4 "not fog") 7
Predisposing Factors.
(a) Chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease, or both together 38
Note: A number of these became acutely ill in various ways
during the fog, e.g. developed bronchial pneumonia,
acute bronchitis, acute cardiac failure etc.
(b) Asthma: This condition, although not often referred to
on the death certificate, appeared from family
enquiries to be a factor in 21
(The sole infant death was one. An allergic family
history in this case was definitely obtained, as
also in that of five others).