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98
DIARRHŒA.
During the year 1902 there were registered in the Borough of
Lambeth 159 deaths from Diarrhœa, as compared with 274
during 1901.
Taking the statistics of the old Parish of Lambeth for 10
years (1891-1900), it will be seen that the annual average is 188.4,
so that the figures for 1902 for the Borough are 15.6 per cent.
less, which, considering the greater care exercised by medical
practitioners in nomenclature, on the lines of the recommendations
of the Report of the Royal College of Physicians of London,
is highly satisfactory, though the small average heat during
the summer months must be remembered and taken into account
in connection therewith.
Of these 159 deaths, 146 (i.e., 91.8 per cent.) were in children
under five years, and 121 (i.e., 76.1 per cent.) in infants under
one year of age. August and September were the most fatal
months (see Table S) though the disease was prevalent also during
July and October. In this connection it is again interesting
to note that the mean monthly air temperature was in June, 59.8
deg.; July, 63.3 deg.; August, 62.1 deg.; September, 57.9 deg.;
and October, 51.0 deg.; whilst the 4ft. earth thermometer registered
56 deg. F. on June 29th, rising to a maximum 60 deg. F.
on July 17th, and sinking to 56 deg F. again on September 30th.
56 deg. F. is the so-called "critical " earth temperature for
Diarrhoea, i.e., the temperature at which the germs of this particular
disease begin to multiply and prove themselves dangerous.*

* The 4ft. earth temperatures were taken in Regent's Park, and thanks
are due to Mr. Wm. Marriott, of the Royal Meteorological Society, 70
Victoria Street, S.W., for the information in connection therewith.