Epilepsy and its Variations

Epilepsy is an extremely common disease, although actual statistics on racial and geographical distribution are virtually unobtainable. Turner in 1907 estimated that the ratio of epilepsy per thousand of the population in England ranged between 2.9 and 0.4. In the last nine months I have seen 57 cases of epilepsy, and these form the basis of this report. Of these, 54 were Europeans, two Indians and the other was Coloured. I have not included any African in this report, for although it is a common disease amongst them, I have seen insufficient cases myself. Of these cases, 33 came from Salisbury. If the European, Indian and Coloured population of Salisbury is about 80,000, this gives a personal incidence of 0.4 per thousand. Now it is clear that only those cases have been referred for consultation which are either new or are giving trouble, and if as many as one case in four were referred, this would give an incidence of 1.6 per thousand.

A CAJM article on epilepsy in the 1950's Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe.)