Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/94kl4ce77m
Coroners, the Deceased and Causes of Death in the Hospital Registries of Deaths in Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik 1878–1882
Maja Katušić
orcid.org/0000-0003-2348-5226
; Hrvatski institut za povijest Zagreb, Hrvatska
*
Kristina Puljizević
; Hrvatsko katoličko sveučilište Zagreb, Hrvatska
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The paper offers an analysis of the sources of the statistical data on the causes of death in Dalmatia and the Dalmatian hospitals, and of the manners in which they were collected, whereby registries proved a relevant source. Based on the entries in the hospital registries of deaths, an analysis of the causes of death of the persons who died in hospitals in Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik between 1878 and 1882 was conducted. The dominant causes of death, the season-, sex- and age-related dying patterns were determined, as well as were the social structure of the deceased and the differences among the hospitals regarding the manner of recording the causes of death. The analysis shows that in all three hospitals, the principal causes of death were infectious diseases, followed by respiratory conditions. Children mainly died of infectious and nervous system diseases, whereas senior adults more frequently died of chronic conditions linked with the respiratory system and carcinoma. Men more often died of infectious diseases and sudden death causes, whereas women had a higher frequency of malignant and heart conditions. The seasonal mortality distribution indicated to pronounced seasonal patterns in relation to respiratory and infectious diseases, whilst other conditions were present throughout the year. The subject analysis of the causes of death in the Dalmatian hospitals offers an insight into public-health-related issues in Dalmatia; the key processes include the transformation of the hospitals from charitable institutions into professional medical institutions operating under the competence of county authorities, and medical staff professionalization. The progress may further be followed through the improvement of the health-related legislation, the statistical administration system, as well as the records of patients and causes of death.
Keywords
causes of death; Dalmatia; hospitals; registries of deaths; 19th century
Hrčak ID:
340737
URI
Publication date:
8.12.2025.
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