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48
2.—Non-Notifiable Diseases.
Chickenpox.
820 cases of chickenpox were notified voluntarily.
Diarrhœa.
The number of corrected deaths registered from diarrhœa is
46, as compared with yearly averages of 191.6, 219.4, 208.6, 140.2,
178.2, and 77.4 during the six quinquennia 1891-1895 (Parish),
1896-1900 (Parish), 1901-1905 (Borough), 1906-1910 (Borough),
1911-1915 (Borough), and 1916-1920 (Borough) respectively. Of
the 46 deaths registered, 41, i.e., 89.1 per cent., occurred amongst
children under 5 years of age, and 30, i.e., 65.2 per cent., amongst
infants under 1 year of age.
The decrease in the number of diarrhœa deaths during 1923
is remarkable.
The 4 ft. earth thermometer first registered 56°F. on July 2nd.
rising to a maximum of 63.5°F. on August 18th, and remaining
at such maximum only for three days, sinking to 56°F. again on
October 14th. The summer of 1923 was a very late one, and the
numbers of cases of summer diarrhœa and deaths therefrom were
consequently and correspondingly reduced. The inter-relationship
between this particular disease and the 4 ft. earth temperature
has long been noted, and so much so that the latter is known as the
critical earth temperature in connection with all diarrhœal diseases,
being the temperature at which the particular germ or germs
that are the cause or causes of diarrhœal diseases, especially of
infantile zymotic, or summer, diarrhœa, take on virulence and
become so fatal to infants and young children. Apart from
meteorology, other causes of an increased diarrhœal rate are to be
found in the improper and irregular feeding of infants and young
children. The readings of the 4 ft. earth thermometer were taken
in Regent's Park, and the information is obtained through the
courtesy of the Curator of the Royal Botanic Society of London.
19 corrected deaths (10 infants under 1 year of age) were registered
from enteritis.