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40
Great Britain not less than 100,000 persons have
been sacrificed to this disease in the same time.
Where one person dies of this disease, from 10 to
20 get it and get well. It is vain to calculate the
mere pecuniary expense of such a curse, but every
one can make something like an approximation to
the cost of such a waste of human life, and form an
opinion of the vast benefit of a legislation that
should put a stop to this disease.
Diarrhoea.
Whilst Scarlet Fever is an example of a highly
contagious form of Zymotic Disease absolutely
dependent on a specific poison for its propagation,
Diarrhoea is a form of Zymotic Disease which is
never contagious, except when it precedes an attack
of true Asiatic Cholera. Diarrhoea is, however,
mainly dependent for its origin on preventible
causes. It is produced by impure water, sour milk,
decomposing food, and an atmosphere contaminated
by germs of organic matter arising from decomposing
vegetable and animal substances. Hence it is constantly
present with us during the hot seasons of
the year, and may to a certain extent be controlled
by cleanliness, and avoiding all forms of contaminated
food and drink. The majority of the
cases recorded in this parish in 1870, occurred
during the third quarter of the year, and in the
Berwick; Street Division, the most overcrowded
district. As a warning it should never be forgotten