Bills of Mortality, also known as mortality registers or registers of deaths, refer to the historical record-keeping practice of documenting and tabulating the causes of death in a given period. This term originated in England in the 16th century, and these records were often maintained by parish clerks or local officials.
The purpose of Bills of Mortality was primarily to track and report mortality rates within a population. These reports provided valuable information for public health officials, as well as epidemiologists and demographers, to understand patterns of mortality, assess disease outbreaks, and develop strategies for disease prevention and control.
Typically, Bills of Mortality included detailed information such as the deceased individual's name, age, gender, occupation, place of death, and cause of death. The causes of death were often classified according to specific diseases or conditions, and sometimes included additional information like signs and symptoms.
These records were periodically published and made available to the public, enabling researchers and policymakers to analyze and make informed decisions based on the data. Over time, Bills of Mortality became a crucial tool in assessing public health measures, monitoring epidemics, and implementing interventions for diseases affecting the population.
In contemporary contexts, while the term "Bills of Mortality" may not be used as frequently, the practice of tracking and documenting mortality statistics remains a fundamental aspect of public health surveillance and the broader field of epidemiology.
