Perthes' disease in yorkshire.

Perthes' disease is common in certain urban areas within Britain. It is one manifestation of a generalised growth disorder and nutritional causes are suspected. Orthopaedic surgeons throughout the Yorkshire region recorded all new patients with Perthes' disease over two years. There were large geographical differences in incidence which could not be explained by urban-rural or social class differences. No cases were recorded in a large area within the eastern part of the region, which is in high-grade farming land and has had a relatively low infant mortality throughout this century.