Dr John Virgoe: Causes of death in a rural southwest Lancashire community in the late 18th Century

 

 

From 1789 until 1801 the parish register of St Cuthberts,  North Meols recorded the cause of death and the age of a large percentage of individuals dying in the parish. This information is examined and discussed in the context of the location of North Meols, other sources of information on causes of death and medical knowledge of the period. The contribution that it makes to knowledge of mortality in the late 18 Century and medical understanding in the area is considered.