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39
As a result of this, there was a marked diminution in the number
of deaths under these latter headings, and where they were
used enquiries were made of the certifying practitioners as to
whether they considered these deaths to have been of the nature
of Epidemic Diarrhoea, and when this was the case the deaths are
included under the head of Diarrhoea.
In 1900, Diarrhoea was the cause of 156 deaths, including 11
ascribed to Gastro-Enteritis, which were stated by the certifying
practitioner to be of the nature of Epidemic Diarrhoea. In 1899,
Diarrhoea was given as the cause of 183 deaths, while 141 were
ascribed to Enteritis, Gastro-Enteritis, etc., as against 33 in 1900,
so that the actual decline in the fatality of this disease was much
greater than is shown by the figures for Diarrhoea alone.
The mortality was equal to a rate of 1.17 per 1,000 which was
only exceeded by five of the London Sanitary Districts. In the 33
large towns Diarrhoea caused a mortality equal to a rate of 0.94
per 1,000, ranging from 0.23 in Halifax, 0.29 in Bradford, 0.37 in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to 1.44 in Liverpool, 1.52 in Sheffield, 1.67
in Preston and I.68 in Hull.
The following table gives the Diarrhœal death-rate of Fulham,
London, and the adjoining parishes during the last 10 years:—

It will be noticed in Table XI that upwards of 80 per cent, of
the total registered deaths from Diarrhoea occur under one year of
age, and it has been pointed out that to state the deaths from
Diarrhoea in terms of the total population unfairly handicaps