Less surely than the former class can these be
looked upon as true nervous diseases; so that in speaking of them I am
careful to make separate mention of their increase, while thinking it
right on the whole to include in the general summary of this growth of
nerve disorders this partially doubtful class.
Taking the years 1852 to 1868, inclusive, it will be found that the
population of Chicago has increased 5.1 times and the deaths from all
causes 3.7 times; while the nerve deaths, including the doubtful class
labelled in the reports as dropsy of the brain and convulsions, have
risen to 20.4 times what they were in 1852. Thus in 1852, '53, and '55,
leaving out the cholera year '54, the deaths from nerve disorders were
respectively to the whole population as 1 in 1149, 1 in 953, and 1 in
941; whilst in 1866, '67, and '68, they were 1 in 505, 1 in 415.7, and 1
in 287.8. Still omitting 1854, the average proportion of neural deaths
to the total mortality was, in the five years beginning with 1852, 1 in
26.1. In the five latter years studied--that is, from 1864 to 1868,
inclusive--the proportion was 1 nerve death to every 9.9 of all deaths.
I have alluded above to a class of deaths included in my tables, but
containing, no doubt, instances of mortality due to other causes than
disease of the nerve-organs. Thus many which are stated to have been
owing to convulsions ought to be placed to the credit of tubercular
disease of the brain or to heart maladies; but even in the practice of
medicine the distinction as to cause cannot always be made; and as a
large proportion of this loss of life is really owing to brain
affections, I have thought best to include the whole class in my
statement.
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