Mistakes in Cholera Statistics

Mistakes in Cholera Statistics

Posted on November 27, 2007. Filed under: Mistakes in Cholera Statistics | Tags: bad science, Ben Goldacre, cholera, goodscience, guardian, homeopathy, lancet |

Thanks to laughingmysocksoff, I am able to give more complete statistics of the 1854 cholera epidemic. It seems I only recounted part of the homeopathic success!

In the London Cholera epidemic of 1854, of the 61 cases of cholera treated [at the London Homeopathic Hospital], 10 died, a percentage of 16.4; of the 331 cases of choleraic and simple diarrhoea treated, 1 died. The neighbouring Middlesex Hospital received 231 cases of cholera and 47 cases of choleraic diarrhea. Of the cholera patients treated 123 died, a fatality rate of 53.2 per cent., among the victims being one of the nurses.

Morrell, P and Cazelet, S. The History of the London Homeopathic Hospital