RICKETS

[wini]

Looking at the past and causes of death in the 19th Century, all the obvious diseases come to mind, but how many people had debilitating diseases that must have been difficult to live with but not necessarily fatal.
My Grandfather born in 1870 had Rickets but lived until he was 85. What other similar diseases were around.
The same grandfather gave up work in 1928 and told his 4 children to look after him. He was the only drinker, smoker and gambler in the family and lived longer than any of the others.Died in 1955.
Rickets is caused by lack of Vitamin D, so what was missing from a Glaswegians diet in the 19th C.

wini

[SarahND]

Rickets is caused by lack of Vitamin D, so what was missing from a Glaswegians diet in the 19th C.

Sunlight!! I believe that lack of sunlight for the children, or for the mother who is breastfeeding, causes Vitamin D deficiency. Also, interestingly, even if there is sunlight, if the baby is bathed too frequently and the Vitamin D washed off before it can get absorbed... Doesn't seem to have slowed your grandfather down, though!

Regards,
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello Wini & Sarah,

In 1798 Rickets was caused by lack of exercife and prevailed moft in towns where the inhabitants follow fedentary employments. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B2s ... s&as_brr=1

By 1835 there were all sorts of suggestions but primarily “For a child threatened with rickets, who inhabits a great city, perhaps one of the best remedies would be immediate removal to the country; and those parents who have the means would do well to try the effects of a warmer climate.” http://books.google.com.au/books?id=3yQ ... #PPA293,M1

In the 19th century the primary available sources of Vitamin D were some varieties of fish and sunlight. In Glasgow in particular, with its sunless slums Rickets was a major problem. http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSG00038

“Rickets used to be rife in Scotland and the north of England in the early part of the 20th century. At that time, smog caused by coal-burning blocked out the UV-B rays of sunlight. Rickets is now rare, but sporadic cases still occur, particularly in Glasgow.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 137426.ece

Hope this is interesting,
Alan

[Tracey]

There was a very good Drama on the BBC called Casualty 1907
Drama series using case notes, ward reports, autopsy records and diaries to create a portrait of the doctors, nurses and patients of The Royal London Hospital in 1907.
which is now repeated on BBC4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009sqdx and although a few decades on, at the end of the programme it always give you "facts" and one week it said how many babies died of ...(cant remember what) and it wasnt until the 1960's that they found that a simple solution of water and sugar would have saved them. The illnesses that now a simple trip to the GP will cure rather than then when only a few months spell in isolation and huge contraption would see you through it if you were lucky .