In article ,
Lawrence13 writes:
Thanks Sleepatlot,

My thanks too. It's very interesting.

I have on many occassion spent hours trawling for stuff like that
and never seem to find simple graphs, but apparently you put that
one together? Funny thing is I can't believe that fatalities were
lower in 1952 than the many of the years around

The 1952 smog was in December that year, so would fall in winter 1952-3.

it with 1951 more than 3 times higher. I say that as 1952 was the
year of a terrible smog over London and possibly other areas of
the country with over 4000 deaths attributable to the awful
conditions, 1962 when there was another exceptional period of
smog just before Christmas and the New Year and taht is possibly
reflected in those figures in 63?

Yep, and of course the 1962-3 figures will also include deaths from
hypothermia that winter.

I was wondering why the figure for 1950-1 was so high. December 1950 was
cold, IIRC, but hardly so severe as to account for so many excess
deaths. Perhaps there was a major flu epidemic that winter?

The overall trend of the chart is very encouraging, presumably
reflecting improved health care and better heating and insulation of our
homes.
--
John Hall

"Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong."
Oscar Wilde