Anaemia in the Poor-Law Classes of Glasgow

McIntosh, James (1941) Anaemia in the Poor-Law Classes of Glasgow. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

One thousand and fifty nine persons comprising infants, young children, school children and adults of all ages were examined in the foregoing investigation of the incidence of anaemia in the poor-law classes of Glasgow. The results indicate that anaemia is prevalent in infants and children under four years and in women during the reproductive age. It is however relatively uncommon in children of school age, adult males and women over the age of fifty years. That this anaemia is one of iron deficiency,is evident from the dramatic effects which are produced by the treatment of these women and young children with doses of iron without any change in their diets. Evidence has been brought forward to show that inadequate feeding, low birth weight and infections all play a part in causing anaemia in infants and young children of this class. Repeated haemoglobin estimations on infants and children attending Child Welfare Clinics would distinguish, at an early stage,those suffering from anaemia. This would allow early advice and treatment to be commenced from which the child's general health would improve and its resistence to infections increase. It would appear from the evidence that pregnancy and childbirth and in a lesser degree menorrhagia are the factors mostly concerned with the production of anaemia in women of reproductive age. Infection seems to be of little importance. The diet of this class of people appears to contain sufficient iron to maintain a normal haemoglobin level, so long as there is no extra call for iron as occurs in pregnancy, and after blood loss during menstruation and following pregnancy. Sixty seven old people, who lived alone, were examined. The results indicate that the conditions under which they live have no adverse influence on the haemoglobin level. The results of the examination of men and women living in lodging houses point to the conclusion that anaemia is more prevalent in males than in females. It would appear that mode of living and long continuation of a diet badly prepared, rarely varied and poor in iron are the important factors in causing this low haemoglobin level in men. From the results of iron medication it may be stated that women of this class, suffering from this type of anaemia respond to iron extremely well. Provided the initial dose is small and the increase gradual, large doses of iron may be given with excellent results. In view of the results of treatment with vitamin C, one is justified in concluding that the haemoglobin response in women suffering from iron deficiency anaemia, is no better when vitamin C is combined with iron,than that with iron alone.

• Item Type: Thesis (MD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Medicine, Epidemiology, Public health
• Date of Award: 1941
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1941-79512
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 05 Mar 2020 08:58
• Last Modified: 05 Mar 2020 08:58
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/79512